This resonates with me because yesterday, when I took a break and had a lie-down on the floor, on my back, I threw up and aspirated. Couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and the world went hazy.
And then I felt myself lifted, two dogs pushed under my shoulders, one more got in back (these were Tashka' the Anatolian, Belle the Wolf, and Juno the Malinois.
They got me to a sitting position so Oscar the Pibble could pound on my chest until I coughed myself mostly clear.
Then they lay me down on my side, weak and dizzy, and made sure they turned me every few minutes. They wouldn't let me get up for maybe 90 minutes.
No-one instructed them in this, though some of them had to have watched Barb do it. And since she wasn't home, they knew it was on them.
I'm hurting and shaky this morning, and grateful for the coming sunrise.
Amazing what our canine friends can do. God works in mysterious ways. I am sorry you had to go experience this; yet, the Lord sent his furry, smart helpers to get you through. He is with you all the time. Praise be to Him.
Each morning upon rising I try to put myself, my life, my intentions, and my current illness, into God's hands. I try to get God into my head before i get myself into my head... and it often works for quite a while, but then at 11:11am an alarm goes off on my phone to remind me again, "Turn it over." Because by 11:11am, being the human that I am, I am already looking for ways to take control again.... thus the reminder.
And I cannot recall the number of times I have stopped on some country lane and helped a turtle cross the road, because there are some unkind folks who would make sport of running it over and then laughing about it.
Bill, I love that you set your alarm for 11:11, the angel number. You can relax knowing that you are never alone. God has you in the palm of his hands. My prayers are with you.
Bill, I would like to share a little prose piece with you and others...
THE TURTLE
Out of the dust and past, in searing heat, ponderous and patient, slow scaly legs, in powerful lunging rhythms, he heaves his crusted carapace onto the slab. His ancient stubborn head thrust only forward, reptilian but earnest, no fear or challenge in his obsidian eyes, but only will to reach a paradise of shade and muck that is beyond the road, or used to be. A car swerves wide to run him down, and with a raucous whoop crushes his legs beneath his shell. Bewildered, but determined, he pulls himself along as best he can. What can have happened to his world, and why? I don't know what to say. That's just the way some of us humans are, old threatened friend
I had two friends who knew I was an animal rescuer who on the same day each saw a different turtle trying to cross the PA Turnpike. Each of them got out and plucked the turtle up, and brought him to me because they knew I would take care of him.
That was almost 25 years ago. Mekkie the Turtle passed a few years back, but Tekkie is still with me and enjoying a life lived slowly.
It just kept getting better and better. I felt that wee turtle’s anxiety. The rescue was awesome. The instinctive fighting. And the beautiful conclusion that brought me to tears we turtles are lucky to have you chronicling our journey.
Sean, there have been many times throughout my life when I have been rescued by invisible hands. I thank Him every day. Thank you for such a beautiful reminder of God's love and protection.
Thank you! Thank you! I rescue stuff and a lot are migrating turtles, even the ones with claws. We have a lot of them in S. GA. I'll stop traffic at a busy intersection if I have to (done that) to rescue a turtle - or anything else (not snakes). I've stopped semis. In the rain. Turtles were on that land for eons of time, doing what they were supposed to. Roads are a blip in time. Turtle shells are extremely sensitive to touch, and turtles love to have their shells stroked. Who knew?! Crack a turtle's shell and he dies a slow, agonizing death. Haven't seen ANY migrating turtles this summer. For that matter, I aven't seen any fireflies in years. What are we doing to our home?
That's wonderful! And a relief to know that they are still flourishing somewhere. I put it down to pesticides killing them off. I live in the country (where you would think fireflies would be plentiful!), with peanut, cotton, corn, soy are grown in humongous fields. I see spraying planes daily. (Then there's "RoundUp Corn" which I consider poison. Needless to say, I don't eat corn in any form.) Rachel Carson warned us decades ago.
Unfortunately, there's way too much spraying around here, too! But most of our property is bordered by pasture, and they haven't been spraying that. For that, we are grateful!
I live in the country, too (sorry if I mentioned that) and my house is surrounded by pasture and pine. Another cash crop, but they don't spray it. I also have a deep well (200 ft) so I'm getting good water, but the toxins have to seep into the water table. There's a lot of bladder, stomach, colon, prostate cancer in this area - I put it down to exactly that: farmers poisoning their own water. I doubt anyone has investigated that.
Te, I live in SE AR and feel exactly the same way. I hate that so many farmers are forced to farm like this to get their loans and seed. I also feel I’m being coated in that stuff every day!
That's wonderful! And a relief to know that they are still flourishing somewhere. I put it down to pesticides killing them off. I live in the country (where you would think fireflies would be plentiful!), with peanut, cotton, corn, soy are grown in humongous fields. I see spraying planes daily. (Then there's "RoundUp Corn" which I consider poison. Needless to say, I don't eat corn in any form.) Rachel Carson warned us decades ago.
Oh that we could quit struggling and just trust and let go like Jim! Our Father tells us that daily but we continue to worry and struggle instead of “Trust and Obey” for there is no other way but to be happy in Jesus,
This is the best story ever with so many life lessons ... and a happy ending. Thank you, Sean.
BTW, some wise person told me: "when you see a turtle crossing the road, be sure to take them in the direction they were headed. If not, they will try to cross the road again."
This resonates with me because yesterday, when I took a break and had a lie-down on the floor, on my back, I threw up and aspirated. Couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and the world went hazy.
And then I felt myself lifted, two dogs pushed under my shoulders, one more got in back (these were Tashka' the Anatolian, Belle the Wolf, and Juno the Malinois.
They got me to a sitting position so Oscar the Pibble could pound on my chest until I coughed myself mostly clear.
Then they lay me down on my side, weak and dizzy, and made sure they turned me every few minutes. They wouldn't let me get up for maybe 90 minutes.
No-one instructed them in this, though some of them had to have watched Barb do it. And since she wasn't home, they knew it was on them.
I'm hurting and shaky this morning, and grateful for the coming sunrise.
***
Sometimes you have to place your life
into the hands of others,
friends, or maybe the dear wife,
or paws of canine brothers.
Things must happen as they must,
circumstances are God's will,
but we're called to wait, and trust
that He will be there still
in, perhaps, another guise,
an avatar to play His part,
but you will see in other eyes
the glow from His kind mighty heart,
and you'll rest easy in calm knowing
that it's with Him you will be going.
Wow. What a testament of God’s immense power that He used His creatures to rescue humans!!
Thanking God for your care-giving angels. Amazing!
Tell your dogs we’re all grateful to them for helping you stay with us. 🙏
Amazing what our canine friends can do. God works in mysterious ways. I am sorry you had to go experience this; yet, the Lord sent his furry, smart helpers to get you through. He is with you all the time. Praise be to Him.
Praising the Lord that you are still with us!
He obviously isn't finished with you on this earth yet!
So grateful they were there for you. And, so I ask... who rescued whom? Who is Oscar?
Your puppydogs are a godsend for sure!🤗 Through them God wraps his arms around you😊
What a story, and love the poem- especially the idea that Gd looks at us in another form!
Andrew-
Are you doing okay today?
God bless you, Andrew.
Glad you made it. We are world's apart philosophically but I believe that you are one of the few good ones. Live long and prosper.
Each morning upon rising I try to put myself, my life, my intentions, and my current illness, into God's hands. I try to get God into my head before i get myself into my head... and it often works for quite a while, but then at 11:11am an alarm goes off on my phone to remind me again, "Turn it over." Because by 11:11am, being the human that I am, I am already looking for ways to take control again.... thus the reminder.
And I cannot recall the number of times I have stopped on some country lane and helped a turtle cross the road, because there are some unkind folks who would make sport of running it over and then laughing about it.
Bill, I love that you set your alarm for 11:11, the angel number. You can relax knowing that you are never alone. God has you in the palm of his hands. My prayers are with you.
I continue to pray for you, Bill!
And we like to help turtles, too!
Thank you so much.
Bill, I would like to share a little prose piece with you and others...
THE TURTLE
Out of the dust and past, in searing heat, ponderous and patient, slow scaly legs, in powerful lunging rhythms, he heaves his crusted carapace onto the slab. His ancient stubborn head thrust only forward, reptilian but earnest, no fear or challenge in his obsidian eyes, but only will to reach a paradise of shade and muck that is beyond the road, or used to be. A car swerves wide to run him down, and with a raucous whoop crushes his legs beneath his shell. Bewildered, but determined, he pulls himself along as best he can. What can have happened to his world, and why? I don't know what to say. That's just the way some of us humans are, old threatened friend
by Russel H. Fowler
Oh my, that is powerful, thanks!
Bill, my husband and I absolutely are crazy about turtles. ❤️
I hope today is a good day!
Oh Sean Dietrich this is one of the best ones you’ve written! The allegory of Father God and His love for His children is just beautiful. Thank you!!
AGREE!!!!!
I had two friends who knew I was an animal rescuer who on the same day each saw a different turtle trying to cross the PA Turnpike. Each of them got out and plucked the turtle up, and brought him to me because they knew I would take care of him.
That was almost 25 years ago. Mekkie the Turtle passed a few years back, but Tekkie is still with me and enjoying a life lived slowly.
Love the turnpike turtle stories!
Sean, you have outdone yourself. And that’s saying a lot, my friend.
It just kept getting better and better. I felt that wee turtle’s anxiety. The rescue was awesome. The instinctive fighting. And the beautiful conclusion that brought me to tears we turtles are lucky to have you chronicling our journey.
Well said!
I love this so much. Jim is a smart turtle in many ways. May we all be like Jim!
Sean, there have been many times throughout my life when I have been rescued by invisible hands. I thank Him every day. Thank you for such a beautiful reminder of God's love and protection.
Thank you! Thank you! I rescue stuff and a lot are migrating turtles, even the ones with claws. We have a lot of them in S. GA. I'll stop traffic at a busy intersection if I have to (done that) to rescue a turtle - or anything else (not snakes). I've stopped semis. In the rain. Turtles were on that land for eons of time, doing what they were supposed to. Roads are a blip in time. Turtle shells are extremely sensitive to touch, and turtles love to have their shells stroked. Who knew?! Crack a turtle's shell and he dies a slow, agonizing death. Haven't seen ANY migrating turtles this summer. For that matter, I aven't seen any fireflies in years. What are we doing to our home?
I’ve also noticed that Tekkie likes to have his shell pet. He will reflexively jerk his head back, then calm down when he feels a finger on his shell.
Interesting observation!
That's interesting because we've seen more fireflies at our place in KS than usual this year! We don't mind! 😉
That's wonderful! And a relief to know that they are still flourishing somewhere. I put it down to pesticides killing them off. I live in the country (where you would think fireflies would be plentiful!), with peanut, cotton, corn, soy are grown in humongous fields. I see spraying planes daily. (Then there's "RoundUp Corn" which I consider poison. Needless to say, I don't eat corn in any form.) Rachel Carson warned us decades ago.
Unfortunately, there's way too much spraying around here, too! But most of our property is bordered by pasture, and they haven't been spraying that. For that, we are grateful!
I live in the country, too (sorry if I mentioned that) and my house is surrounded by pasture and pine. Another cash crop, but they don't spray it. I also have a deep well (200 ft) so I'm getting good water, but the toxins have to seep into the water table. There's a lot of bladder, stomach, colon, prostate cancer in this area - I put it down to exactly that: farmers poisoning their own water. I doubt anyone has investigated that.
Te, I live in SE AR and feel exactly the same way. I hate that so many farmers are forced to farm like this to get their loans and seed. I also feel I’m being coated in that stuff every day!
That's wonderful! And a relief to know that they are still flourishing somewhere. I put it down to pesticides killing them off. I live in the country (where you would think fireflies would be plentiful!), with peanut, cotton, corn, soy are grown in humongous fields. I see spraying planes daily. (Then there's "RoundUp Corn" which I consider poison. Needless to say, I don't eat corn in any form.) Rachel Carson warned us decades ago.
Oh that we could quit struggling and just trust and let go like Jim! Our Father tells us that daily but we continue to worry and struggle instead of “Trust and Obey” for there is no other way but to be happy in Jesus,
Trust and Obey🙏🙏🙏
May we all rescue at least one creature great or small. We make a difference to their survival.
Indeed!
I have trouble totally trusting.. totally surrendering to God… anxiety takes over.
I need to learn from this turtle.
Me, too, Don.
Oh my HEART🐢♥️‼️ I sooooo love your powers of observation and thought, Dear man! This too, is why “I Brake for Turtles”!!
This is the best story ever with so many life lessons ... and a happy ending. Thank you, Sean.
BTW, some wise person told me: "when you see a turtle crossing the road, be sure to take them in the direction they were headed. If not, they will try to cross the road again."
And you are becoming adept at weaving a very good sermon into an equally good story!
"The turtle lives twixt plated decks
which practically conceal it's sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
in such a fix to be so fertile."
~ Ogden Nash