From Chert Dog’s perspective, “Doghead is pretty easy to learn, you just have to speak from your heart.” This velvety Black with Chocolate accents English Labrador Retriever came…
Source: Chert Dog’s Book: “My Father’s Greatest Gift: Life Lessons from a Black English Labrador Retriever
Connie Andrea Marchell
Lisa Ann Carucci Lash
L.D. Marchell
Lisa Ann Carucci Lash
Connie Andrea Marchell
Lisa Ann Carucci Lash
L.D. Marchell
Daniel 3:75
©Loriginal Designs
©Connie A. Marchell
©Lisa Ann Carucci Lash
©Bible
As you may have read a few days ago, after quite a long time stranded in an oak tree, Chert Dog sent along Lori to find me. But I had to take a leap of faith from the tree to get to a lower branch so that she could climb up to get me! My stories are all about taking leaps of faith. If you read Hebrews 11:1 is says that “Faith is the substance of things hopes for, the evidence of things NOT YET SEEN.” So to visualize and believe and have conviction and declare God’s victory over your life is no small task. Believe me, I prayed, I cried out to God in my most hopeless appearing hour that I would have help. And sure enough, I did receive help, but I HAD TO TAKE THE FIRST “LEAP” for things to change in my life. I thank Chert Dog for coming into Lori’s dream and that she was open to listening to his message, otherwise I wouldn’t be here sharing my story, now would I?
Since Chert had several costumes and toys, Lori made me a stuffed tiger bow tie toy from one of his Halloween costumes. Needless to say, it is my favorite toy and “security blanket” for it is because of Chert that I am here writing to you now! I love posing for photos, and have been told that from my “ugly duckling” adolescence, I have matured into a handsome cat! But this all has to do with the LOVE that I receive. It encourages me and provides healthy self-worth and confidence as well as supports me in all of my “leaps of faith” that present themselves to me in lesson. More on that to follow!
If there is anything I can share with you about my first and most important “leap of faith” it would be that the solutions arrive at the last possible moment! I’ve tested this theory again and again with various “dark nights of the soul” and have ALWAYS arrived at the same conclusion: The challenges already come with the solution, we just have to have FAITH that we will know WHEN TO TAKE THE NEXT LEAP OF FAITH, which is ALWAYS at the very last possible conceivable moment. It’s is just how this new energy works. So, every time you take that action leap, you are supported, every single time. My first example is my being stranded in that big oak tree. I was terrified! But fell into loving arms that have never let me go ever since. First confirmation. My second example is being chased by the catbird and me chasing him! I was still a kitten, and had never seen or heard the likes of this flying bird that sounded like a cat! But eventually, we learned to become friends as he would perch atop the back deck umbrella while I would then run out to the back yard and he would dive bomb me! We actually became pretty good playmates! A third example is when Cousin Dugan came to visit! We kept our distance as I hissed and pounced towards him in the beginning, but by the end of the visit, we became slumber party buddies sharing the same bed together! So, these are just a few “leaps of faith” that I will share with you for now. They all have taught me the importance of stretching my boundaries and being open to new and unusual animals to open myself up to more expansive potentials and possibilities!
As you can see by the photo, I felt it safe to be on the piano bench, up higher than Cousin Dugan as I surveyed the situation at hand! I know that Chert and Dugan were best of friends, so he has to be pretty cool even though he is a dog! I am just not used to sharing my “space” with other animals, so this has been a lesson in loving-kindness and hospitality! See, all of the challenges do come with a solution, you just have to sit with them and meditate on them long enough and the answer will come. Just in its own time and on its own terms, most of the time. This situation was different because Cousin Dugan just “arrived” at our home to stay for a few days, so this is what you call “crash course” leaps of faith! First, I needed to know that he wasn’t going to bite me! Second, I needed to know that he was just visiting, so it was just for a few days of adjusting to things being different. And third, I needed to know that I was strong enough to handle this challenge and become a good and gracious host to Cousin Dugan because he was really put into quite a situation as well. All his family was gone and he is here with me, a cat that has 22+claws to defend myself, so he was “treading lightly” around me.
After some outdoor activity, we became to bond a bit more as Cousin Dugan is a push-over when it comes to being mild-mannered and easy going! His kind demeanor made for his visit to be an enjoyable slumber party! So my inner challenges were once again erased and turned into new and wonderful experiences learning to share my home and get along with another animal. We are placed in situations and need to ask what the message is being brought by the messenger. I learned the importance of getting along with others no matter what type of animal that they are. We are all in this together! Thanks Cousin Dugan!
As you can see, my favorite place to supervise the Bird Brain Cafe is from my flower bed hiding places. Sometimes I have to step up and get a drink out of the birdbath, and the birds fly away! Across from this lookout I see several blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches, mourning doves and hummingbirds to mention just a few! Recently, we have had the arrival of juncos, which are not normally from this area, but with the climate changes, we have noticed several new and wondrous things including incredible sunbows during the day and amazing cloud colors and formations for sunrise and sunset! God is the Master Artist, that is for certain!
In my earlier years, I was foolish in chasing and catching the birds. One day, I caught a baby female cardinal and Lori came along instantly to take it away from me. I wanted her to be proud of me in my ability to be an excellent hunter, as that is truly my inner instinct. She did say that I was a good hunter, but she also said that I don’t need to hunt because I have more than enough to sustain me. She gave me a new use of my skills and abilities in supervising the bird brain cafe. Seems reasonable to me! So about that baby female cardinal, she grew up that summer and became quite a powerful and strong bird – I actually think that she tried chasing me, if I recall! Serves me right for picking on something smaller than myself! So its always about asking what do I want to come from this experience, what is it for? The question should always come at the beginning of the challenge/experience. The baby cardinal reminded me about my scary experience being chased up that big oak tree and that it would be best for me to let go of that traumatic experience and not keep re-creating both in my life and in the lives of others. See, she taught me a very valuable lesson! There is always something to learn and to grow and to become more than you were yesterday. The cardinal exemplifies that to me now as she is full grown and a mother herself! Glad we both learned how to get along together!
