Dear Partners and Friends,
2020 was a difficult year. For some of us, it was difficult outside of the political circus. Life goes on for us all, with or without a plandemic. As you know, my own life took a horrible turn last year. Trauma hit me rather hard at the end of April. There were moments in the suffering in which I didn’t even want to live. But, my Elohim kept showing up with His goodness. He pulled me out of the grips of depression, anxiety, suffering, grief, terrible trauma, etc… And, He continues to bestow His goodness on me in ways that amaze me every time. You’d think I’d simply expect His goodness, put my faith in it consistently, because He is always showing up with it. Yet, here I am, amazed again.
Last fall, just two weeks before Thanksgiving, our dog, Molly suffered a seizure. I walked into the living room and she was convulsing on the floor. I rushed her to the vet and they ran all kinds of tests. The news was bleak. The vet said that Molly was in complete liver failure and probably wouldn’t make it through the night. I started crying and said, “But she was fine yesterday!” He said we could go the route of checking her into an animal hospital for observation at a cost of thousands of dollars. I’m a realist. Thousands of dollars on an almost 15 year old dog that might not make it through the night was a “No” for me. He then offered to put her down right then in order to save her from any suffering should she survive the night.
I wasn’t ready to just say goodbye to my sweet Molly after just an hour of getting this bad news. I decided to take her home for the weekend and, if her condition did not improve, I’d bring her back first thing Monday morning. This would at least give me and my family a chance to say a proper goodbye. That night, while alone with Molly, I began to pray. Through tears, I pleaded with my Abba, “Father, it’s been such a hard year, I don’t want to lose my dog too.”
The next morning, Molly was up and about as if nothing happened. “Is she out of the woods?” I thought. With each passing day and no sign of impending doom, my hopes for her continued to grow stronger and stronger. I also continued to pray for her and one of the things I prayed was when it was time for her to go, that she would just pass peacefully in her sleep.
That was almost 9 months ago and our sweet Molly is still alive and well and happy.
Molly had 5 or 6 more seizures in the 9 months since that first one. Like with humans, it wiped her out for a few hours and then she would be back to normal. As for the liver failure, I really don’t know. We give her milk thistle (an herb that cleanses the liver) once a day and feed her healthy food. The only other explanation I can give is that my Abba answered my plea. He is good like that!
“Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of turning. Having purposed it, He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, for us to be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.” James 1: 17-18 The Scriptures Version
But, Molly’s story doesn’t end there. On Monday, July 26th, Molly had another seizure, the first one in about 5 months. She became confused and kept falling down, eventually unable to stand altogether. By Wednesday evening I was sure it was time to put her down as she was still confused and mostly paralyzed, unable to even barely lift her head. This continued into Thursday. I cried a lot that day as I made several phone calls looking for a vet to come to our home to do it. I called my kids and a couple of friends to let them know it was time for anyone who wanted to stop and say goodbye. By Friday morning her condition had not improved. I text Rob at work, “Would it be selfish of me to wait til Monday? She doesn’t seem to be in pain and that would give me the weekend with her.” He reassured me that it was ok since she was not suffering. I decided to wait and took Molly outside since it was a cool breezy day. I made sure she got plenty of water and helped her eat some food.
By late morning, she was trying to get up. Say what! So, I put a harness on her and held her in the standing position. It was tiring but worth it as she seemed happier to be up. She tried to walk but her legs were limp and just wouldn’t do what they’re supposed to. I did this several times that afternoon, “walking” her around the yard in the harness while holding her hips, just to give her some exercise so she wouldn’t get stiff. Later in the day, I went in to get something inside. When I came back out, Molly was standing! On her own! What!
As the hours progressed and into Saturday, Molly continued to improve. At first her walking was wobbly and short lived as she plopped back down. By Monday, the day I planned to have her put down, she was almost completely back to normal. I kept looking at her saying, “You goofball! Way to play with my heart, crazy dog!” as she sniffed the air and panted in excitement.
During those moments where she desperately wanted to get up but couldn’t, I couldn’t help but see how strong the will to live was in her. Then, how strong her will to get up and walk had become. At one point, Aurora said, “Why don’t you help her get back up?” after she tumbled over from a failed attempt to stand. Nope, I wanted her to do it. I wanted her to know just how strong she is. “You got this, Molly!” I said.
At some point over the weekend, I knew it wasn’t her time. And Yahovah reminded me of my prayer for Molly that she would pass peacefully in her sleep. “Did you not pray that?” He asked. “Yes, I did.” I answered. Oh, how quickly we forget His goodness. How often He continues to show His goodness even in our forgetfulness.
I know that each extra day I get with my sweet Molly Dog is a blessing from my Father. Even if I awake tomorrow and she doesn’t, My Abba answered my prayers and He is good. And I will still be amazed, every time, at His goodness, even in my weakness.
Yahovah, our Elohim, is a good God. He loves us with grace and mercy and cares about all aspects of our lives, even when it comes to our pets! Put your trust in Him today and in His goodness!
“I bless Yah at all times; His praise is continually in my mouth. My being makes its boast in Yahovah (this is the name of Elohim); Let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, make Yahovah great with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought Yahovah, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor one cried out and Yahovah heard him, and saved him out of all his distresses. The messenger of Yahovah encamps all around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Oh taste and see that Yahovah is good; Blessed is the man that takes refuge in Him! Fear Yahovah, you His set-apart ones, for there is no lack to them who fear Him! Young lions have lacked and been hungry; But those who seek Yahovah lack not any good matter. Come, you children, listen to me; Let me teach you the fear of Yahovah. Who is the man who desires life, who loves many days, in order to see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of Yahovah are on the righteous, and His ears unto their cry. The face of Yahovah is against evil-doers, to cut off their remembrance from the earth. The righteous cried out, and Yahovah heard, and delivered them out of all their distresses. Yahovah is near to the broken-hearted, and saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the evils of the righteous, but Yahovah delivers him out of them all, He is guarding all His bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil does slay the wrong, and those who hate the righteous are guilty. Yahovah redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those taking refuge in Him are guilty.” Psalm 34 The Scriptures Version
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director
For Every Great Battle, There is a Great Victory!!
P.S. After hearing me read this newsletter allowed for its final revision, Aurora asked that I let you all know what she calls Molly. She said, “I call her doggy-woggy when her name is actually Molly!”