I Hope It’s A Puppy

by Darla Noble

Our soul has waited for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let your loving kindness be on us, LORD, since we have hoped in you.

Psalm 33:20-22

One day as my husband and I were driving home from town he received a phone call from one of our daughters. When I asked him what she wanted, he grinned, hesitated, and then said, “I can’t tell you.”

Since it was the first of December I assumed it had to do with Christmas so I didn’t persist. But the first thought that ran through my head was, I hope it’s a puppy. The reason being was that our 12-year-old mini-dachshund had died over a year ago and I had gotten to the point of considering getting another one.

Two days later my husband admitted that he was thinking of surprising me with a dachshund puppy. My initial reaction was excitement. Then I started stressing over the fact that I didn’t know if I wanted the responsibility of housebreaking it, getting it to sleep through the night, and all that other puppy stuff.

I ended up saying ‘yes to the dog’ but quite honestly, I’m not sure I made the right choice. She’s a dachshund, so of course, she’s adorable and affectionate. But she’s also a big responsibility.

My point? What I hoped for was, in some ways, more than I wanted to deal with. But when we put our hope in God, we never have to worry about that. Putting your hope in God is never a mistake. Never more than we can handle. Never a disappointment or something we will regret.

Pray
God, thank You for the hope that is mine because of Jesus. In Jesus’ Holy Name, I pray, Amen.