March | 2019 | Sherry's A Labour of Love

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Advocacy: a) public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. b) one who pleads the cause of another c) one who defends or maintains a cause or proposal

Are you an advocate for a cause, a someone, a group or an agenda? Is anyone your advocate? Have you ever considered what it means to be an advocate?

In our world today, I think that too many people look at advocacy as a chore. An act of self sacrifice for someone else, whilst attesting to that act as a duty that only they can take care of. I am not so certain it’s always genuine and I am beginning to think that more and more people are using the word advocacy as a way to exercise their thoughts in promoting themselves rather than the cause of which they are exerting their energies. Why are we advocates? Is our heart in the right order? Are we advocating for something or someone so that we may be elevated? Are we trying to prove something to someone or to ourselves?

I admit that sometimes I consider my voice as a tool to say or give an opinion because I think I am “helping” someone, only to realize that perhaps I was actually only elevating my own self worth. Hmmm….something to consider isn’t it? Have you done that? Do you think off the cuff you are helping someone yet in reality when you look back you were only voicing an opinion to make sure you were heard. Making sure you are heard is very different than making sure you are an advocate for a cause, policy or for someone.

I consider Christ and all that He succumbed to in His short life on this earth. All that he said and did was not for his own good, not to uplift himself nor to validate who he was. It was for a cause, a cause of salvation for those whom he met and for those going forth who would be followers of the one true God. This salvation would bring about the praises and Glory of his Father to whom all life has been blessed. His life was the vessel used to bring about a change in attitude. A change that would bring salvation to those whom needed to hear the Word and for those of us who read the Word. That we may glorify the Lord and worship Him will all our hearts. Our cause and advocacy of the scriptures is not to elevate who we are, but elevate the One and only who gave so much to allow us to do so. Remembering that is sometimes difficult. That is why we need the truth of the gospel to lead us. Truth in our worship, truth in our study and truth in our intentions. How do we get there? Prayer, study, hearing gospel truth and understanding that we are a small part of the picture. Our voice doesn’t always need to be used to bring about advocacy, our actions do.

You are likely saying to yourself, what? She went from talking about elevating ourselves by using our voice and now she is talking about action. Well, let me explain. I think that actions shout a lot louder than the words that come out of the mouth. Our actions show our true selves and what we are promoting. If you look back on your actions, were you promoting a cause for something or someone, or were you promoting yourself?

I am going to leave you with those thoughts….Advocacy can be good, if used appropriately and can be viewed by others very differently if spoken. Therefore, consider the actions that you take and what others will see out of those actions. Promotions of self or promotion of cause?

Dakota – Black Lab mix (although we think he is closer to a pure bread), our gentle giant.

Lexi – Pyranees Lab mix, our little muffin

Each day I awake to the delightful warmth of one cat cuddled at my side and two dogs at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me to come down to them for their morning petting. The excitement of a treasured pets response to human interaction is unlike anything I’ve experienced. One wags her tail so excitedly that it looks like a windmill going in circles. Waiting at the bottom of the staircase with anticipation.

We’ve had two cats for awhile now, and with the addition of two dogs in the last year, I have to say life are has come full circle. We used to say we were cat people and not dog people…haha well that certainly has changed. The joy they bring to our lives is certainly nothing short of true bliss.

How did we get here? I have to say that God’s roll in our lives is never ceasing of His love. He guides, protects, and has plans for us that even we could not imagine. To think that a year ago, my daughter and I were heading to FL for a girls week of fun in the sun, only to return with a 24 hour car ride home with a sweet little puppy from Alabama. Helping one friend find a home for him and another friend find the love of their lives. For Sydney and I, it was bittersweet. We fell in love with that little guy so much so in 24 hours that we sobbed in handing him over. That experience led us to realize that a dog was possibly the completion to our family unit.

The weeks went on and our daughter continued to look for the same breed that our little Alabama friend was until finally she found one that was going to be transported to the local rescue from Missouri in just a few short weeks. Looking for a foster home first, then adoption the sweet face of that little munchkin melted our hearts. We knew she had to be ours. Ironically, one of our friends mom ran the rescue locally. She was able to to secure our little Lexi so that we could foster her and “see how it went”. Of course, it wasn’t long and we knew we had to adopt her.

The family unit, we thought, was complete. That is until we went to Scotland and Lexi played with two other dogs for almost 2 weeks. When we brought her home we quickly realized how much she needed another dogs interaction. We decided to adopt a black lab brought up from Alabama who was found in a kill shelter and brought up to our state. He is the most gentle giant we know. He and Lexi have become brother and sister, Gary and I have become parents all over again (as they act like toddlers sometimes….) and the kids are loving having dogs.

Who would have thought…..I mean, you would think a simple trip to Disney would be exactly that, simple. Yet for us, it was unknowingly the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. A new chapter that brings us great joy daily.

All of this has had me thinking about life in general. We think that we plan out our lives, detail for detail, thinking that we know what is around the next corner. Yet, we are not actually in control. We are subject to the greater good of a God who loves us and who cares for all of our needs. A God who watched His own children fall into sin, only to love them enough to bring them back to himself by sacrificing. Making a sacrifice of his own Son so that the sins of man will be forgiven. How often do we consider what a loving God we have? How often do we take for granted His mercy and grace in our lives when things do not go “as we planned”? Sometimes, we need to reflect on His love, the outcome of our situations, and the blessings that we receive through His plan of redemption in our lives.

As I look at that trip to FL, I actually see the blessing of three lives that were saved due to the unexpectedness of that trip. Little Gus, whom rode home with us, the farm dog that needed a home, Lexi a rescue whose mom abandoned she and her litter mates at birth, and Dakota, the good natured sweetest boy who was found at a kill shelter. To be able to see those blessings, is also a blessing. To have the eyes to see something out of the unplanned circumstances that we had not planned on happening.

God’s plan is always perfect in our lives. We have nothing more to give other than praises and thanksgiving to a God who knows, sees, hears, and glorifies.