Remembering Shug

Today marks the one-year anniversary of our sweet Shug’s passing. Shug was a Cavapoo. He was divinely designed to chase birds, stare at his humans questioningly just before darting across the street, and follow his mom wherever she went. Shug loved his brief life because every day he did what he was meant to do.

Most days, Bethany wakes up before me and since the dogs are really “her” dogs, she feeds them, waters them, and takes them out.  After all that routine was completed, Shug waited on me to get up. As soon as my feet hit the ground each morning, he used his nose to nudge my calves as I walked into the bathroom to the sink. His poking didn’t stop until I knelt down on the bath mat and spoke to him, petted him, and hugged him. He demanded my attention, my affection, and my time.

When Shug passed suddenly, I grieved in very unexpected ways. Along with the normal “what if” thoughts, I longed for his presence. He loved me unconditionally and accepted me completely. He didn’t ask me to be different than who I was but drew out the best parts of me.

Almost immediately after Shug’s passing, the Lord reminded me that Shug’s love and acceptance were just tiny glimpses of the Father’s love for me. Even greater love and acceptance is available to those who are in Christ. Just as Shug pursued me each morning by nudging his nose into my calves and longed to sit with me each afternoon, the Holy Spirit pursues me and lovingly encourages me to rest and be fully present. Where is your attention? How are you spending your time?

We buried Shug in our back yard under a tree, placed an etched rock with his name as a gravestone, and moved an iron bench just nearby. Just as the Israelites placed stones to remember what God had done in cutting off the Jordan River, Shug’s rock and that little iron bench remind me that I am safe in the Father’s arms and that I can trust and rest in him.

For all who may read this… My prayer for you is that you don’t miss the nudges today.