Betty Jo Has Up and Died - Life Lessons From a Lab

Have you ever noticed that hindsight is 20/20? Such was the case as I stood leaning against the pole of the awning between the Education Building and the Parish Hall. I was spending a moment with God in between church and Sunday School. As I focused on one particular tree in the back part of the church property, I asked God what was it that He was trying to show me. Then, I saw it…all the beautiful leaves – all changing colors. God had a lesson He was teaching me. It was all about timing – His timing. God reminded me that He tells the trees when to change. He is in charge of the seasons. Wow! What a concept. So, if He is in charge of the seasons, He is all about perfect timing. With that new revelation, I agreed to trust Him in His timing. That is…until that afternoon.

Then Betty Jo up and died! It was quite sudden. She had not been ill; she was fine when we left for church and fine when we got home. Still, she died – without warning – she just died. While Steve frantically drove to the vet’s office, I sat in the back seat of his car holding Betty Jo’s foot and speaking peace and love to her. The vet said that it probably was an embolism or something that we could not have foreseen nor could we have prevented. It just happened. Steve and I personally thought it was incredibly bad timing!!! We loved her, she was, as our vet always told us, “A good ole dog.” We were not ready for her to die.

So reflecting on the almost 11 years that Betty Jo was with us, we thought about the life lessons she taught us. Betty Jo came just shy a month ahead of our first grandchild. Then, one by one she greeted each and every one with love and affection. Her favorite thing when the grandchildren came was to be their floor pillow. And, she was their fierce and loyal defender! She always fretted when one cried or was being disciplined. When someone came to the door, she was first to greet and stand in between the person at the door and us. But, once she checked out the newcomer and they passed her security test, she was just as loving with them as she was with us. She taught us so much about love and being loyal to those she loved. It simply was not in her nature to do anything but to love and be loyal to us and those we loved.

Second, Betty Jo was obedient. I would like to take credit for the behavior of this dog, but it was just her nature to obey. She so wanted to please. No matter how many people came to our Open House at the rectory or other church events, she always patiently waited to be invited into the room. Until then, she kept her post in the hallway facing the front door and entryway. If you said, “Betty Jo, don’t do that,” she didn’t. Her desires to please and obey overrode any desire or any predisposition that she had. She just obeyed. Betty Jo was our best greeter! She always had good manners and never was pushy to be noticed. She waited to be invited into the person’s space. Her heart was happiest when she was invited to share in the gathering of family and friends.

Did I mention forgiving??? Man, she never held a grudge. Even when LSU was playing poorly and Daddy got a little tense, Betty Jo always knew the grumbling was not against her. Daddy was quick to hug and quick to assure her that it was the game that had him grumbling and not her. Betty Jo knew and understood about forgiveness. It was always available in abundance.

And lastly, she was prayerful. Anyone who came to our house knew this about Betty Jo. When it came time to pray, she came into the circle and laid down in the prayer circle. She quietly stayed there until the last prayer was said and when she heard the “Amen,” she got up and began to exchange the peace with those present.

While I am not yet fully understanding God’s timing, as Steve and I traveled back home in the car from the vet’s office without Betty Jo, I knew that I fully trusted God’s timing…didn’t say I like it or even enjoy it right now, but I do without a doubt, trust it.

There is a saying going around about a dog and it goes like this, “I wish I was as good a person as my dog thinks I am.” We have much to learn about God’s creatures and what they can teach us about His love and the qualities that are in His nature.

A special thanks to Joe and Betty Crawford who decided that the Fergusons needed a dog, and gave us this incredible white lab puppy. We are so thankful for this gift of love. You guys are precious friends and we love and thank you!!!

May this New Year bring a cemented resolve to fully develop those qualities of God that are so much a part of His nature. May we all be as good a person as not only our dog knows but our God is sure we can be. Have a blessed and Christ-filled New Year!