Commitments

Olive, our puppy is driving me crazy. I haven’t gotten through much of a sentence before she has tried to chew my sweater, the blanket, the couch, and my computer cord, and has tried to bark at her imaginary self in the window reflection. The window has not yet barked back.

When Josh and I first adopted a puppy in early December, we didn’t know much about her other than that she was some kind of terrier mix and pretty darn adorable. The last month and a half have been an adventure of getting to know each other. At first our little Olive was afraid of the hard floors, and could only be coaxed out with great encouragement and dog treats. At first us humans had a hard time knowing what to do with this strange new species in our home.

And here we are, a month and a half later, and we now belong to each other. Olive has her favorite spot to sit while napping. We have morning routines and evening routines. And the way we show our love of this new creature, is through daily inconvenient tasks of early morning potty trips and walks even when the weather is soggy.

I find it remarkable that what gives my life the most meaning is often not the joys or the pains, but the commitments. Commitments of partnership, care, compassion, and vocation, help a person to stay grounded. There is an article making the internet rounds that parenthood isn’t a “carpe diem-love every minute” kind of thing, but more like climbing Mount Everest: difficult, hard, and immensely rewarding.

As this finds you today in the midst of your difficult, hard and immensely rewarding work, may you know a greater purpose in the midst of daily tasks.

May the God who calls us to love one another, who kindles our imaginations, who gives us the strength to fight the good fight, and the patience to let the other things go, be with you in the midst of the things that matter this week.

Peace

Lisa