I Feel So Helpless

June 15, 2013

Dear Readers,

It's been a jam-packed day full of activity starting about 6am.  Sadie started shaking her big Scottish Terrier head and got Harmony going.  Harmony got Kennedy, Toby, Ruffles, and Zeke up and we headed out for morning potty time.  Fixing breakfast for six hungry dogren made me giggle.  They acted like they'd been starved to death stumbling over each other getting to their individual bowls.  Mind you, six dogs albeit small, take up most of the floor space in my kitchen! After breakfast, there was a flurry of fur heading out the back door to attend to business.  Michael shook his sleepy head ... "I'll make coffee!"  No such thing as quietly rising to greet the day at the Seidler Casa.

Michael needed to go back to Dallas to pick up Lily who was at the dealership getting her 40K checkup and new shoes.  I decided to ride along to see if my bones could take the longer drive.  All in all, I think I did pretty well (Yay!) and will be up to traveling more than 30 minutes at a time without reaching for my cane.  Believe me, that's a BIG step.

Wouldn't you know, while we were waiting for Lily to be brought to us, we looked at some cars and I found one that was just perfect ... a VW Beetle, charcoal gray, with black leather seats.  Well, guess what?  I drove it home.  I wholeheartedly recommend Rusty Wallis Volkswagen in Garland, TX for best all-around customer service.  I literally hate dickering back and forth over price, trade-in, etc., so I told Gabriel a number to meet or beat or I would come back next year.  We were done and out of there in about an hour!!

We had our pet sitter come in while we were gone to let the dogren out and she didn't call us to say anything was amiss but once I walked into the cottage, I knew one of the furry kids was sick.  Zeke had been very quiet yesterday, spending a lot of time in his doggie bed.  I chocked it up to pouting about the new arrivals, Ruffles and Harmony, and figured he'd be okay in a few days.  Well, today, he was throwing up and had a bout of diarrhea.  He is so tiny and I felt so helpless.  I texted his former foster mom and she told me to fix a mixture of half chicken broth, half water and give it to him.  He's not buying that, preferring to snuggle up against me.  I'll keep trying.

Why is it that kids whether human or furry get sick so often on nights or weekends?  I feel so helpless watching my normally sweet, energy filled boy lay beside me so still.  It reminds me of when my babies were small and couldn't tell me what was wrong.  I had that helpless feeling then and I hated it.  It reminds me of when my little grandson was so sick with asthma and laying in a hospital bed.  I hated that helpless feeling.  It reminds me of when my little Yorkie, Pete, was paralyzed and I held him hoping God would do a miracle and heal him.  It reminds me of when my oldest daughter got so sick and was snowed in out in the country in Minnesota while I was in Texas.  Right now, I am doing my best to keep from panicking and am thinking that it's a good thing I have the vet's office on speed dial for Monday morning at 7 bells.

Earlier this evening, I had a friend tell me about a situation she was facing.  Oh how I wished I could do something ... anything.  Again, that helpless feeling came over me.  Time after time in my life, whether it be friends or family or things going on in my own life, I have run up against that brick wall of helplessness.

I am fortunate, I am a believer in a God who hears our cries and steps in to minister to those helpless feelings.  He tells me to work like everything depends on me and pray like everything depends on Him.  We do make a great team!!  As soon as I finish this blog, I will light some white candles, grab my Bible, and enter the realm of prayer ... just some heart-to-heart, one-on-one time with my Lord.  There have been many people that the Lord placed on my heart for prayer today and they got quick attention.   Still, I like that deep soulful time of uninterrupted prayer.

My beloved Mom Seidler loved the song, "One Day At A Time."  I was humming that as I held Zeke.  I was humming that after I got off the phone with my friend.  I am still humming that.  I am only human and I when I get those helpless feelings, I have to remember who is ultimately in control.  Oh sweet Jesus, what would I do without your loving care?  Those of us with tender hearts need a warrior to help us in our time of need ... our time of tears and fear.

Over and over, my Lord has said that He is faithful and just.  I rarely understand the big picture; however, I trust in the one who does.  If you are like me and are feeling so helpless about a relationship or a situation, I would invite you to join me in prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven,  I trust that you have everything under control even when I am frantically searching for solutions and answers not only for myself but also for those I love and care about.  I ask that you come into my life and give me renewed hope and peace.  For those who are reading my blog, I ask that you minister to them exactly where they are at this moment in time extending your open arms to them, inviting them to come to you.  You know how afraid I am when I feel out of control and helpless; yet, I know that as I fill bowls with petitions and raise them to you, that you reach for them lovingly.  I rest in knowing that you will bring your healing powers in every corner of my world and in the worlds of my Readers.  In your precious son's name I pray as your servant, Miss Dottie.

Do you feel better?  Maybe so, maybe not.  There are times when I have to keep on praying, sharing my deepest petitions with not only the Lord but with a dear friend in Christ who will listen and not judge.  I know I leave you in good hands!

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

~~Romans 8:26-27

Miss Dottie

PS  I hope to make people realize how totally helpless animals are, how dependent on us, trusting as a child must that we will be kind and take care of their needs.  ~~James Herriot

PSS  Please remember there is a big difference between helplessness and hopelessness.  There is ALWAYS hope.  Think on that today!!