“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV)
I had been awake for hours. I said goodbye to my husband at the airport, caught a connecting flight in Charlotte, and flew into LaGuardia Airport. My first trip to the Big Apple. My first flight alone. I trusted God, releasing all potential fears to Him.
I arrived at GEB and met my seven classmates and our instructors. They issued our equipment, which was free. Everything at Guiding Eyes is free to the students: the airfare, training, room and board, the guide dog, and the freedom that accompanies the dog.
Exhausted, I slipped into the strange bed, in my private dorm room, feeling like a child on Christmas Eve. How would I sleep, anticipating my first walk with a guide dog? I closed my eyes and as I drifted off, I heard a familiar sound. Was that a tree frog? I love their harmony. How incredible that one lived just outside my window. God is good. A little bit of Virginia for this country girl.
Morning arrived abruptly with the sound of my alarm. After breakfast, we went to GEB’s White Plains facility, where most of our training would take place. I stood on the sidewalk waiting with Lori, my trainer, and someone brought me a female black Labrador Retriever. We weren’t allowed to know the dogs’ names until “Dog Day,” twenty-four hours away, in case we weren’t matched with the dog we walked. My black beauty, as I referred to her,I
greeted me, gently taking my hand in her mouth. I stroked her head, saying hello.
Lori instructed me to give the forward command. Off we went, bustling down the sidewalk. As we neared the curb, the Lab gently came to a halt. We crossed a street and began winding in and out among people but never bumping into anyone. Impressive! My black beauty went through the crowd like a hot knife through butter.
Freedom! It felt normal walking with a dog and not my white cane. I felt the chains drop off. I had been released from the confines of my disability.
God had done a new thing, making a way for independence. That day I had no idea God would take me as far as He has.
My first walk with a guide dog reminded me of another time when chains were broken, the day I was born again. Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross to free us from sin and hell. Christ is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32). Now, I live for Jesus because Jesus lives in me.
Do you have that personal relationship with Christ? If not, don’t wait; Jesus is coming again. Today could be your day of salvation. Call on Jesus, repent of your sins, and taste the freedom of Christ.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to die for our sins, paying the debt we can never pay. Because of Your great gift, we can have a personal relationship with You and make heaven our home. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Digging for Bones
Read John 3:3 and John 8:32.
This is one devotional from my upcoming book, Faith, Freedom and 4 Paws: Seeing God Through Iva’s Eyes – Guide Dog Tales Book 1. To celebrate, I will go live everyday in September with a behind-the-scenes look at each devotional. These messages will also be shared here. Please join me in the release of this long awaited devotional and preorder now HERE
Originally posted on August 31, 2020 @ 3:00 am
I smiled so big as i read your first walk with Iva. Beautiful!
Such fond memories!! I do love that girl! When I share the devotional from the devotional page, the link works. Someone isn’t playing nice and making things difficult if you know what I mean. At least I haven’t been totally erased. Trying to say something without actually saying it if you know what I mean.