Bumblefoot

I cry out to the LORD with my voice…I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. Psalm 142:1-2 (NKJV)

I tried my hand with pet rodents and never felt very chummy. They are not the cuddliest creatures in the world. What drew my attention to this devotion was the Bible verse. “I pour out my complaint before Him…” Do I try to hide things from God and then complain about them? Maybe. Peggy Frezon (All God’s Creatures) does a great job with this good life lesson taught by a guinea pig.

*****

I angrily swept up a pile of hay. I was not in the mood for cleaning the guinea pig cage that morning. I was too upset about something a friend had said to me. It seemed she wasn’t willing to go out of her way for me the way I’d gone out of my way for her hundreds of times. I was so upset I wouldn’t take her calls or text her like I usually did. I just fumed silently.

My miniature broom whisked vigorously. As Petunia and Marigold scrambled into their hideout. I thought I saw something red on the bottom of Marigold’s foot. Recently I’d told my granddaughter about numblestrutting—a funny word for guinea pigs’ display of dominance. Now I was worried about what amounted to another funny word, bumblefoot, or a painful infection of the foot. I reached for Marigold, and she tucked her tiny foot underneath her body instead of letting me see it so I could help her.

Hiding pain is an instinct for prey animals, but what about me? Did I sometimes do this too? Maybe not with physical pain, but what about emotional pain? I’d never expressed what was bothering me to my dear friend. Maybe there was a good reason for what had happened. Maybe she didn’t even know that she hurt me. God wants us to foster strong friendships, ones built on trust and sharing. In the same way, He wants us to come to Him with our hurts.

I lifted Marigold, cradled her, and examined her foot. It was just mildly red, but not too bad. I made a mental note to keep an eye on it. And I made another mental note: text my friend to share my hurt honestly to give her the grace necessary to keep our friendship on strong footing.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Almighty Father, thank You for being bigger than all my hurts. AMEN.