Chapter 27 – Is That A Real Dog?

God Who Knows Who We Are

Psalms 71:1

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”

Acts 17:28

“For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.”

That winter was milder than the previous ones and yet we sure did have the beauty of more than a dusting of snow a few times. The snow was about as deep as the thickness of a high quality down comforter or that of a luxurious plush duvet blanketing our little town. The foothills would glow in the moonlight.

Kaiyah was the most happy as she went out and about leaving her occasional “poopsicles”, as I called them, which she seemed to have a personal joy in burying them in the snow with her nose. I have to admit Kaiyah Takota was a very clean dog and, well, even in the snow she did her best to keep the yard pristine and white as long as possible and a clean track to get friskity in her snow bounding. It made me laugh out loud a number of times and I often wondered if she thought she was the only one to enjoy her hide-n-seek frozen potty placement. It did make clean up pretty easy.

As spring came along we started our treks with me carrying my big backpack full of weights to help with my muscle toning regiment and it was good for the bones as well. With all the other weights on my heart this was a welcome challenge. We enjoyed heading over to the library or the post office as that was a nice bit of productive mission minded exercise. I would carefully tie her down when we would arrive so I could quickly run in and out without too much trouble and we would head back toward home. Always keeping a watchful eye for her safety I noticed she often looked at me with that “hurry it up Furmommy” while lowering her head as if she didn’t want to be noticed and then laid down. I only went in the early morning so no need to worry about heat or too much people traffic.

On one such walk Kaiyah and I had just wrapped up my drop-off at the post office. As I was heading toward her she waited patiently by my backpack, which also had her special reward treats, when I heard the voice of a little dark blonde girl about five or so saying, “Mommy…. Is that dog there real? Is she a real dog? Is that a real dog?” To which her Mom replied softly, “Yes, I believe that is a real dog, I think.” The little girl bounced with curiosity on her short little legs while she firmly held her mother’s hand. “A real dog, are you sure?” she asked for more definitive clarity. The mother sighed and looked intently toward Kaiyah trying not to be noticed as we started our walk back. She answered more firmly, “I think it is a real dog…” The little girl still didn’t look sure but stayed close by her mom while watching Kaiyah and me fade past their view as we crossed the street and headed down the concrete path toward home.

It was a funny moment and one I still laugh about. Kaiyah has often been mistaken for a coyote, a wolf, and a wolf-dog mix. Children are often the most vocal when they try to discern what they’ve seen especially when they see her almost float-like walk, her unusual coat and face markings, and her absolutely noble stature of humble demure wildness. Although Kaiyah wasn’t wild in her behavior, she did have a quiet solitary beauty that went with her rather wise and gentle soul.

Another inquisitive young girl, maybe about eleven or twelve with medium blonde hair with a tall lean figure, had asked about Kaiyah on one of the walks through the neighboring community by our home. She was hanging out with a small cluster of other children from the neighborhood. She asked bravely approaching a stranger and her dog, “What kind of dog is that?” I walked toward her and the cluster and answered, “She is an Alaskan Husky.” She quietly asked if she could pet her. I looked at the other children and could tell they were nervous and curious. I squatted down as I often do when addressing children and told them to be very gentle and that Kaiyah had been hurt by people and we should always be gentle with animals. The brave girl who had asked about petting Kaiyah was first and she smiled really big and said she would be careful. She also made the point she liked dogs. This bothered a few of the children and one boy who looked about her age, the oldest of the boys, said with frustration, “You don’t even like dogs!” A few of the kids agreed but she immediately disputed with a high pitched retort, “I do too. It just depends on the dog!” She looked at me for understanding and I waited as the children approached to softly gently pet my humble husky.

While the children, that felt comfortable, petted Kaiyah the young girl asked a little more about her and I shared snippets of her story and thanked her for caring to ask. Kaiyah was very calm but when she gave me the, “that’s enough Furmommy” look I stood up and thanked them for being gentle with her and wished them a lovely day. We began to walk off and the young lady who started the conversation was watching as we walked by. There was something in her gaze and about that young girl that moved my heart with a special compassion and, as is my custom, I prayed and continue to pray for that young lady, and for those children and their families. Children are very precious and they are not living in an easy world, none of us are, I was grateful Kaiyah and I met them and for the courage of the young lady who reached out to ask, “What kind of dog is that?”

That moment along with the other little girl’s inquiry about Kaiyah Takota being a real dog inspired me to write Kaiyah a song, as I do with my critters. I had shared the funny encounters with Peter and he added his own adorable humor and said, “Kaiyah’s the real dog.” When she did something right he would respond, “Good, the dog.” He had already pointed out years prior that she was very “dog like” and when she had a special moment he would say, “It was a great day for the dog.” She loved it! And she would toe-tap paws, do curlie tailie wagglies, and have those gentle soulful eyes sparkle when she would hear her own special tune that came with a number of spontaneous verses that would tell about her real dog like behavior, one of which goes like this:

“Kaiyah the dog, Kaiyah the dog, Kaiyah the dog is a real dog!

Kaiyah the dog, Kaiyah the dog, Kaiyah the dog is a real dog!

And she likes to run and get fris-kity, and she likes to eat her little bone-ies.

Kaiyah the dog, Kaiyah the dog, Kaiyah the dog is a real dog!”

We all struggle from time to time about who and what we are meant to be. It is not always necessarily out of our own confusion but the confusion of others trying to figure out who we are or who they think one should or might be. People can be confusing in the way they say things or treat us. Of course, life experiences can test our understanding and may even make us wish to be something other than who and what we are. Certainly there is an enemy who authors confusion and wants distortion, to put us to confusion, and all that comes with it. He wants us to be anything but what God has made us to be. But the Lord I serve is not that way and rather constantly is Pointing us to Him for clarity and protection in this way. I have prayed Psalm 71:1 many times, and should all of my days as the battle for our soul is fierce, “In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” It is so important to hold onto God’s Truth against the deceitful lies of this world that are designed to confuse and undermine our peace no matter what age we might be or what we may go through. As 1 Corinthians 14:33 reminds me, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of Peace….” Once again, I was in need of a new understanding and clarity in my own life after the loss of our babies and the aftermath of many other complicated components that had already blown through.

Those two innocent and funny encounters caused me to reflect on a few things including the Lord always Knowing who we are and that He will Protect, Ensure and Affirm what is True and Expose and Extricate that which is not, if we ask and let Him. God Knows Who we are. Wondrously, in and through Lord Jesus we are His Children and He encompasses our very being within Himself. Acts 17:28 powerfully reveals, “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.” What a peace He is! When we are hurting or feeling confused we need Him to Slow Trickle His Waters deeply and broadly penetrating the dry or damaged areas in us; and to repair our ability to see things clearly, as He does. When those areas are refreshed in Him then His Truth can bring the New Life and Affirmation we desperately need. It may take time; His Timing is best…always. Peter and I were praying for it and waiting for it.

Kaiyah may never have internally questioned the fact that she was a real dog or what kind of dog she was. But she had experienced what it was to be hurt and to be loved for being her. Her little personality blossomed and continued right along ever since her healing started years prior. Developing friendships with Gideon and Pumpkin, having her very own furmily with grandfurparents who loved her and spoiled her with food samples and photo shoots, and an Auntie Woof who always made sure she had special cookies to munch to help affirm her. She had begun to further discover more of her husky-like behavior thanks to all the cold and snow, and to be given mission trail mush opportunities all the time while finding all the many good things God had for His little husky. And He even knew she would find joy making poopsicles too.

Without a doubt Kaiyah the dog was a real dog!

…Until we meet again…