Tootsie
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My sister has the cutest dog, Tootsie.
She is a thirteen-year-old shih tzu-Yorkie mix.
Even though she is an older dog, Tootsie has loads of energy and personality. If you take her for a walk, she moves with haste and confidence, her head held high and tail wagging behind her. If the doorbell rings, she runs quickly, barking feverishly, to let any possible intruder know that she might be little, but she is not playing games.
When we visit for the holidays, Tootsie is always the first one to greet us, running up and placing her paws on our legs, inviting us to bend down and give her a good rub.
The other day, my sister called us to chat while she and Tootsie took a walk.
On their way home, my sister flipped the video to show us how Tootsie refused to go into a certain side door of her apartment. We watched Tootsie dig in with great tenacity! My sister practically had to drag her inside. I thought about Tootsie today because I had a similar moment. I, too, faced an open door that I did not want to walk through, a new turn on my normal walk that brought more fear than excitement. And, just like Tootsie, I dug in, stubborn to a fault. “I am not going that way,” I told myself, not realizing I was really saying no to God.
Immediately, the image of Tootsie refusing to enter that door filled my mind, and I had to laugh at myself! The reality is that I was being as stubborn as our beloved dog.
How often God puts up with us in moments like these! For a while, He may allow us to humor ourselves and go our own way, but eventually, as only a loving Father can, He picks us up and helps us through the unfamiliar door—He knows what is on the other side.
Dearest sister and friend, I want to encourage you today to trust God—He knows what lies ahead, and He will not lead us into danger. We can safely trust Him and any door He holds open for us to walk through. He promises to make our paths straight, but we must walk forward. So let us loosen our grip. Let go, and let God!
LaKeisha Williams
