My
smallest dog is terrified of storms. With the accuracy of a meteorologist, she
senses their impending arrival long before we humans can spot any evidence. As
soon as her nose begins to detect ozone in the air, she huddles in a “storm
shelter”, her little body trembling. Nothing comforts her until the tempest has
passed.
One
recent night, just as I was preparing for bed, she ran under the bench in my
kitchen and began to quiver. I grabbed my Kindle and looked up the weather
forecast. Sure enough, scattered thunderstorms were predicted.
Shortly
after I lay down, I heard thunder in the distance. As the noise grew closer, I
began to feel sorry for Bianca, and sleep was impossible. I got up and knelt
down beside her, stroking her shuddering form. I began to pray. I asked God to
hold this little dog up above the waves and to please let her feel His
presence. Suddenly, I was overcome with the feeling of Him… holding… well, the
entire creation. For a few seconds, I was one with all the saved beings both on
earth and in Heaven, as well as millions and billions of animals. We were all
held firmly in our Father’s hands, and all was well.
I
wish I could give this story a glorious ending – the storm suddenly ended, or
Bianca joyfully ran out from under the bench and began licking my face, but
neither of those things happened. I was once again simply a mortal woman on her
knees on the kitchen floor, beside a terrified dog. But I went back to bed with
a feeling of peace, knowing that all things are indeed in our Creator’s hands,
and I could rest in Him.
