We’re fairly certain our porky little Yorkie, Hughie, is going deaf. This diagnosis is, of course, unprofessional. We base our concern from the results of numerous “tests” we performed. ( i.e. clapping, shouting, whistling and snapping right behind him, with no response) At first, we thought he was just being obstinate and ignoring our calls or commands. Now we have to retrain ourselves.
I keep forgetting he can’t hear me. I cannot tell you the number of times I heard him barking and have called out from another room to get him to stop.(not that, that was a real effective technique when he could hear…but now it is totally a waste of words).
When Hughie needs to know we are there, for his comfort and care (remember I am his favorite and he CRAVES my presence) he has to be able to see us. Sometimes he will lay just beyond the room I am in, waiting for me. He does not hear me in there already, I have to go get him.
When we want him to follow a direction, he has to be able to see us. This point was most evident the other day when Scott and I took him for a walk on the beach. As we casually strolled one direction, we noticed Hughie heading the opposite direction. He was busy sniffing every pile of sea grass and clump of sea anemone that had washed ashore. We intended to walk to our left, which is shorter and easier for our pokey, porky Yorkie to manage. He was steadily plodding to our right, a longer and more obstacle filled direction.
We did, as we are accustomed to doing, what every “normal” dog owner would do, we called out his name. “Hughie!”, “Hughie! Come here boy, wrong way little buddy, come on we’re over here!” Nothing. No ear twitch or head turn, no acknowledgment of our efforts. He just kept plodding along with his head down. Then we remembered he could not hear us.
Scott had to catch up to him (not difficult since was only “plodding” along) and physically turn him around facing our direction. When he saw me, he immediately continued his plodding, only now he was plodding the correct way.
I outwardly sighed at the confirmation of our new reality. Inwardly I cringed, as I considered how often my relationship with God is like ours with Hughie.
How often is God right there with me, but I am not aware because I do not see Him? How often does He call me and I do not hear Him, because I cannot see Him? How often does He have to redirect my path, because I have not kept my eyes on Him and strayed away? I am reminded how important it is to keep my eyes on Jesus. When I do not, it is easy to not hear Him, follow, obey or find comfort in Him.
Today I praise God for His continued grace and mercy towards me. I pray when I feel He is not there, that He will make His presence known in an obvious way. I pray that as I learn to keep my eyes on Him I will not lose heart. I pray He will meet me when I am on the wrong path, pick me up, turn me around and lead me His way.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary, and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2&3
Tuesday With Teri 