Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Smiley (Buddy's other dad) and  Buddy

Buddy in a teeny tiny dog bed

Today is Buddy's birthday. Buddy the Bulldog. 75 pounds of muscle. No one told Buddy that he's, um...a large dog. He is convinced he is a lap dog, and he will only sleep if he is stretched out on top of someone. I've had a cat that thought he was a dog, and a Labrador who thought he was a Jack Russell, but I've never known a dog quite like Buddy.

Once, I lost Buddy. I was supposed to be taking care of my grand-dog while Josh was in D.C. for an Eco-Car conference. We looked for almost two hours. I was panicked. Bulldogs overheat due to their squashy faces and rather compromised nasal arrangement. And Buddy loves water, but bulldogs are sinkers. He has to wear a life jacket...so I was very afraid that we would find Buddy passed out or worse...Then Josh got the call from the Williamson County Animal Control team. They had found him chasing deer in the hills of Brentwood. He happily hopped in their truck and enjoyed the free ride home as much as the running. They found him miles from home...

If you know anything about bulldogs, they are supposed to be lazy. As in, Josh took Buddy to the vet for his check up and the vet asked, "So, is he getting his 10 minutes of exercise each day?" The vet was shocked to hear that Buddy needs hours of playtime: tug of war, wrestling, walks...

No one ever told Buddy what he's not supposed to be. No one told him he couldn't be a lap dog. No one told him he doesn't really fit in a teeny tiny dog bed. No one ever told him that he wasn't supposed to run through the hills on a summer's day, or play endlessly for hours. Besides, it wouldn't do any good. Do you have any idea how stubborn bulldogs can be? 

But that's who Buddy is, and he is absolutely impossible to love. 

Don't let the world tell you who you can't be. Don't let the voices in your head convince you that you are anything less than precious. 

I just discovered a wonderful children's book, Ish.
It's the story of Ramon, who loves to draw, but wads up every piece of artwork after his brother makes fun of it. He is about to give up, when he discovers that his sister has been saving his illustrations. When he points out that his vase doesn't really look like a vase, she says, with great joy, "it's vase-ISH!" 
Ramon discovers that even if the world might say he is not a great artist, he must create. Creating gives him joy, feeds his soul, and sets him free. And in that, he is a great artist!

You, are "fearfully and wonderfully made," and God's greatest joy is in seeing you set free by that knowledge. So go out and be brave and stubborn and be whatever it is God has created you to be!