Meet Winston. He’s one of three Yorkies in the Kendrick family. Yes, it’s okay to question my sanity. Who in their right mind would need three dogs of any kind?! Of course, Winston has a story. It goes something like this.
My first Yorkie was Princess. She weighed 14 ounces at 8 weeks old. Absolutely adorable and thoroughly spoiled rotten, yet definitely a little on the fragile side. When she was about 5 years old, she began to have some health issues and the vet warned me she might now live very long. I was devastated, so the simple solution seemed to me that we should go ahead and get another Yorkie. Just in case.
So after months of searching, I found one. In Oklahoma. I know, I know. There you go again questioning my mental condition. The puppy people agreed to meet me in Rockwall, so Cameron and I loaded up and headed north. In the Target parking lot, we met Winston. He was the cutest little ball of fur you’ve ever laid eyes on. It was love at first sight. So I attempted to bargain with the breeders, ended up paying full price, and Cameron and I got in the car with one precious pup who had no clue how lucky he’d just become.
I should mention at this point that the breeders actually had three puppies when we arrived at Target. One was being bought by another couple, and we were buying one. That left one remaining. The plus-sized one. Most people who buy Yorkies want small dogs, so it was logical the full-figured gal would be the one left behind. As I started up the car to head home, Cameron looked at me with the biggest and saddest blue eyes and said, “Mommy, we can’t leave that puppy all by herself. She will be so sad without her brother and sister. Please, Mommy, please. She can be my Christmas present.” Oh, heavenly day! What mom could say no? Even if it was August, and Christmas was months away. Certainly not this one. So, we headed home with two precious pups. And I had some ‘splainin to do to Brad. Definitely not the first time.
The pictures below show clearly why I was defenseless in this situation.
Fast forward from 2006 to now. Duchess (left) and Winston turned five years old this July. Princess turned 10 years old in August. Yes, Princess is still alive, and we’ve since changed vets.
Anyway, that’s all just background information. Today’s story is really about just Winston. Now don’t let his tiny size fool you. He’s a ferocious hunting dog. He may be a petite five pounds, but he’s fast as lightening, and he’s always on the lookout for something to chase. When we first moved to Bluff Creek, the previous owners had left behind three hens and two roosters. Winston did not like them one little bit. I’ll save the “Winston, the Chicken Hater” story for another day, but suffice it to say, the Kendricks do not have chickens anymore and none of them ended up in the frying pan.
With the chickens gone, Winston’s arch nemesis is Squirrel. I’m certain there’s more than one Squirrel, but they’re all the same to him. Squirrel frequently visits the area right outside our back door. Squirrel has demolished a gorgeous jade plant and is currently working on what was a huge pot of portaluca. Emphasis on the was. Anyway, Winston is bound and determined to catch Squirrel, but the score for this week remains Squirrel – 2; Winston – 0.
Despite the score, Winston is relentless in seeking Squirrel. Here’s a quick video of Winston after Squirrel got away today. Winston had his little nose to the ground for a solid thirty minutes tracking every possible spot Squirrel might be.
Watching Winston in action today got me to thinking. He sure had a few things to remind me about seeking. When you seek after something, you do it with everything you have – your mind, your body, and your heart. You’re completely consumed with it. You are intentional and purposeful. Your focus is singular. You will not be distracted. Nothing will compete for your attention . . . or your time . . . or your energy . . . or your heart.
It sounds exactly like the way we should seek God. Jeremiah 29:13 reminds us, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” The New Living Translation reads, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” I like the verse even better in The Message translation, “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you aren’t disappointed.”
God never hides. Sometimes we just fail to seek.