Smokey has a tendency to get ear infections. If he gets water in his ear, yeast infections can start to grow in his ear canal. The last time it happened, it took weeks to get the infection cleaned out. To prevent the problem, I am supposed to clean out his ears twice a week. I use a slightly acidic solution and cotton balls, twisted into long screws as shown.
I have to put drops directly into his ear canal, rub the area behind and beneath his ear, and then shove those cotton screws as deep into his ears as I can to blot out the moisture.
Smokey really does NOT like this procedure. Both the drops and the cotton are uncomfortable for him. But even when he sees me holding the cotton balls and the bottle of solution, he will come when I call him and sit down obediently in front of me and submit to the cleaning. He does try to twist his head away, but he doesn't run from me the way he used to.
The other day, I was thinking about things in my own life that have grown out of control, just like the yeast in Smokey's ears. In my late twenties, I had an obsessive crush on a man I knew was unhealthy for me. I've had workaholic periods on my old job, when I took on too many responsibilities because I had a complex about "saving" overwhelming situations. I've had addictions to buying clothes and eating comfort food.
Anytime I've had to go through a time of healing for one of these issues, the process has been uncomfortable. Usually, I put off tackling the issue as long as I possibly can . . . until I just can't stand living with the problem any longer.
Watching Smokey come and sit in front of me and allow me to root around in his ear canal to keep the yeast from growing again, I found myself wondering what lesson I might learn from this. Maybe by sitting and spending time with God each day, I'm allowing the Spirit to continually cleanse me to keep some of those old problems from recurring again. Perhaps it will even bring to light other impacted situations in my life that need more serious attention. But to make this really work, I need to be as willing to submit myself to my master as Smokey is.
16 comments:
I like your way of looking at this. Smokey, as usual, is a great teacher.
Smokey loves and trusts. We could learn a little here.
Submitting is hard.
I usually have to be unconscious, on some level.....
Then I'm relieved.
Too bad it takes that to get to my healing.
Thank you, Ruth.
Amen to that.
xoxoxoxo
discomfort, trust, patience, commitment, no immediate gratification.
Lots of lessons to learn in this reflection on your life-experience. Thanks much, Ruth!
This is a good reminder! Even though we might view "submission" differently, it is something we all need to do. I especially needed to be reminded of this right now as I feel rather "stuck". When that happens, we all seem to get caught up in trying to control outcomes.
~*
Oh I can so relate...on all levels Ruth. Radar comes and puts his head obediently on my lap though he grimaces and winces with the daily cleaning...prodding and removal ...yuck...no more details.
I need to submit too...not just to the hearing but the prodding, cleaning and cleansing I am asked to daily do...oh for a submissive spirt.
Great analogy Ruth.
Oh that trust- that love, so unconditional, that surrender.
I have been giving Gracie eye medication and have witnessed in a small way the same thing.
Your dog parables always get me right in the heart Ruth.
I think trust is the lesson here. Dogs can teach us so much about trust. They allow us to do things that their instincts would have them run from, and they have such fearsome weapons that they could use if they wanted to!
I'm constantly amazed at how trusting The Pirate is, despite his sometimes overwhelming fear of being touched in certain places, or held, etc.
What can we learn? That trust rightly given will only lead to good things, even though the process may be uncomfortable.
Those lessons are so hard to learn. I love that you keep an open heart and think about these things.
Poor Smokey - I feel so sorry for him. :(
A brave thought... and yes, made me think. Gice Smokey a cuddle from me!
God bless Smokey. :)
Scout is good about this too :). I love your take on it.
Hey Ruth,
Happy Octobery day.. so pretty here in the fall in Tn, and just dropped by- as antidote to reading on women our age, not with a good message. Your words keep the spirit blessed, and sense of allowing * (at each stage- from early crushes, on to our being with some perspective) and to be okay with our sense of needing care too.
We need our Shepherd's tender care through kind words, and all, directly and indirectly...thanks for the reminder again.
=)
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