Out of our comfort zone

When our sweet Stella came to us last summer,

she was a scaredy dog.

When she met another dog, or got near a busy street,

she would simultaneously bark her head off

and tremble.

An encounter with another dog would almost certainly

result in embarrassingly bad behavior.

So we certainly didn't envision any trips to the dog park in her future.

Over time, though, she has settled in.  She has learned to trust us.

She has had some good experiences playing with the dogs next door.

We never forgot the friends who told us 

their dog behaved better off leash

with safe boundaries 

and freedom.

We are grateful that they gently nudged us to get out of our comfort zone with our pup.

It's so wonderful to see her doing what she was born to do.

And no matter how far she follows her nose, 

it's never long before she comes back to us.

Boundaries and freedom.

What a sweet combination.

For us too, I think.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, 

but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7