The Struggle is Real

Watching Ben struggle with his new senior diet is heartbreaking. At twelve years old, his body just doesn’t handle protein like it used to. The shift to senior kibble isn’t just a preference – it is a medical necessity to protect his kidneys. Yet, he fights it.

I have tried everything. I mixed it with his favourite boiled chicken. I soaked it in warm broth to soften the resistance. When he still refused to eat this morning, my resolve cracked. I couldn’t bear the hunger, so I added half a hard-boiled egg just to get him to eat. I know this is wrong. By giving in, I’m rewarding his stubbornness rather than guiding him toward health.

The Sheep and the Shepherd

This struggle reminds me of our relationship with our Father in Heaven. He offers us wisdom, protection, and a perfect path for our lives, yet we are like wandering sheep. We insist on our own ways, often turning our noses up at the very nourishment designed to keep us healthy and whole. We fail to recognize that the constraints He places on us are not meant to limit our joy but to preserve our souls.

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is 53:6)

Just as I must stand firm for Ben—because I see the long-term reality his twelve-year-old brain cannot grasp—the Father stands firm for us. Sometimes He denies our immediate “wants” because He is focused on our eternal “needs”.

Pet Care and Spiritual Guidance

Stop bargaining with your own well-being. Trust the guidance you’ve been given—whether from a vet for your pet or from the Spirit for your soul. Love is not always giving what is requested; love is providing what is required for life.

I invite you to say this prayer.
Heavenly Father, help me to be a better steward of those You have entrusted to me and a more submissive sheep to You. Grant me the patience to endure the struggle of transition and the strength to hold firm when my heart wants to take the easy path. Remind me that Your way is always life. Amen.