David and Bathsheba
If I’m going to be completely honest and truthful, I haven’t been wanting to write. There have been some things that have happened in the past month that have been amazing, like my trip to Holland!-which I will have at least a few posts about. However there have also been some not so great things that happen. I have been trying to find the words to write it out and express how I’m feeling, but there are no words to explain the sadness that Myke and I have felt this past month.
We made the extremely painful decision to give Fin to another family.
As I write those words, tears still come to my eyes. To make a very long story short, we felt horrible how often we left him alone and he wasn’t getting the proper exercise he needed for a puppy. We found an amazing couple who live in Simi Valley and they have been very kind with us. They know that this was a hard decision for us to make so they have made the transition very smooth for us. They have a full acre of land and another dog for him to play with. When we were looking for a family I asked God for two important things: a good family and a big yard. They take him for a nice walk every day and a big hike on the weekends. We nursed our little pup back from his abuse and transitioned him for this couple and that makes me feel good, but the hole is still there.
It has been a month now and I still miss him chewing on his toys, sitting on my lap, and licking my face in the morning. While we were in the transition, Myke and I prayed for God’s guidance and comfort during this time. During this time we learned something not only about us, but God as well.
A little back story, Myke decided to get Fin a little to quickly for my liking. I wanted to think about it more because I felt bad about brining him from a house with a yard to a small apartment, plus an apartment that didn’t allow dogs. Obliviously we got him, fell in love, but I had that thought in the back of my mind. Our apartment manager found out and threatened us and I lived in constant fear of what could happen. In the midst of the storm that was happening, we tried looking for another apartment that would meet his needs and not risk our finances. Nothing was happening, we would get leads, but they would never work out. Finally we came to the painful conclusion of having to give him up.
By now you are all probably wondering what in the world does this have to do with David and Bathsheba, some of you are even wondering who those people are. The story of David and Bathsheba is found in 2 Sammuel 11. David was king of Israel and Bathsheba was a married woman that David fell in love with and eventually slept with. She became pregnant and David had her husband killed in battle so no one would know the sins they committed. Bathsheba gave birth to a beautiful boy, however the prophet Nathan came to David and revealed the sin that he had committed. David cried out to God and repented and God spared David’s life. Unfortunately, the child became sick and died as the consequence for David’s sin.
This was our David and Bathsheba moment. We not only broke earthly rules, we disobeyed God warning us this may not be a great idea. We had great times and memories with Fin, but we were living in disobedience. We knew we had to give him up and let him go, just like David and Bathsheba did with their baby. Were they sad? Of course they were! Did they move on? Yes, they had another child a year later, who grew up to the be the next king of Israel. God restored them and David is still considered one of the greatest kings of Isreal and a man after God’s own heart.
If God wasn’t trying to make it more obvious, while I was in Holland, the church put on a play-the story of David and Bathsheba. God has funny ways of talking to you sometimes.
Yes we are still sad that we had to give up our pup, but we have great memories with him and we gave him to a couple who will love him just as much as we did. I like to think that Fin will always remember us. We will always remember him.