Katie, our Dog of Unknown Lineage (#poundpuppy), is about as loyal as they come.

She prefers to be where I am at all times. If I’m writing at the dining room table, she’s under it. If I’m reading in my favorite chair, she’s on the floor next to my feet. If I go into a room where she’s not allowed, she waits for me at the door. And if I take a nap on the couch, she sits next to it hoping to be invited up. (I almost always grant that request…I love the way she curls up in a ball behind my knees. Heaven!)

She’s even loyal when I hurt her.

In an attempt to save money and time, I attempted to groom her myself a couple of years ago. All was well until I misjudged and cut her scalp. I was absolutely horrified. But even as I assessed the cut, tears in my eyes, she still looked up at me with those big, brown, “I Love You” eyes, tail wagging.

After a trip to the emergency vet, she came home with several stitches and a Cone of Shame. I felt like I should be the one wearing it. That night the vet assured me that I had not done any permanent damage to her scalp or to our relationship. (Bless his heart…I was a sobbing mess.) Katie was loyal…still is…even though I hurt her.

It makes me wonder how loyal I am when I’m hurt.

When God allows pain, do I still look up at him with my big, green, “I Love You” eyes? Do I stay near even when my feelings feel fractured and my soul needs stitches? Do I stand still while he assesses my wounds? When I know God could have stopped the thing that led to my suffering, am I loyal?

Or do I try to hide in a corner, clutching my wounds, bitter and angry? Do I act as if I don’t need him? Do I pretend he doesn’t really care?

In all honesty, I’ve done some of both.

Of course, there’s a big difference between my actions that night with my dog and God’s actions toward me. I didn’t intend to hurt Katie. It was an accident.

Nothing is accidental with God. Neither the good, nor the bad. He knows the plans.

So, how do we remain loyal when sometimes it feels like maybe God isn’t?

We recognize that lie for what it is…a lie. And we remember who he is.

We trust that he is good. We trust that he is love. And we thank him.

Easy? Not always.

Necessary? Absolutely.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1

I enjoy participating in the Five Minute Friday community of Christian writers. Each week the members of that community have the opportunity to write for 5 minutes about an assigned theme. This week that theme is Loyal.