Another Loki Lesson

Loki will be two in August this year. Time certainly has flown past since he popped into my life. He’s got heap loads of personality and is learning how to be incredibly naughty. Yes, yes, he is living up to his name! Apparently, it’s the sign of a happy doggy!

Loki makes me laugh. He has almost perfected his injured look for when I am working and not spending time with him the way he wants. He uses his loud bark to perfection. The pressure is real when I am on a work call and he suddenly lets out one of his weepy, heart breaking yelps. It’d break any heart. I’ve had to steel up because giving in to this tactic of his will only mean he has a bigger sense of entitlement. Loki also has a wonderful sense of timing. He plans his most frenzied “attacks”, which are essentially calls for attention at the worst possible time. I may be in the middle of presenting something or on a call with colleagues, family or friends. All of a sudden, there’s a blitz attack on me and all you see is my camera moving all over the place. It’s like a blur. A cousin recorded it while we were on a chat and you can’t make out what’s happening! All you know is there is some commotion going on and that at points, Loki’s face pops up or mine! He seems to know precisely what he’s doing too. I kid you not. Once the laptop’s been put away, he is back to being a normal doggie and he’s all ready for cuddles. Honestly. He’s got some cheeky monkey located somewhere within! 

Another thing Loki does is he tries to organise his own meals. He figures if he doesn’t finish up all his food, he can get filled up through treats or whatever it is I’m eating. It’s not clocked that he’s not getting anything from me and that I’m on to his treat accumulating strategy! He really waits! It makes me laugh because he does all sorts to attract my attention and push it towards the treats in the locker. His persistence is impressive! But this, I cannot give in to! 

One of my favourite things to do is to walk with Loki. He’s so full of life and is curious about everything he sees. There are challenges when we walk because Loki has a disability as a result of trauma suffered within hours of being born. One of his hind legs is missing a paw, while the paw on the other hind leg is missing two toes. This disability has an impact on his life in so many ways. 

The first challenge his disability presents when we go walking is with other dogs with their owners or strays. These dogs sense a weakness in Loki, and they come forward in an attempt to dominate. It’s very different from just a mild curiosity that dogs have when they see each other. They come forward, brazenly. It can be quite threatening. Some are even rather menacing in their approach. The disability also has an impact on Loki. He knows he has a defect and after having been subject to a few attempts of other dogs (stray or not) trying to dominate him or chase after him, he’s had enough. He gets really ferocious if any dog comes too near! I’ve learnt that I make the difference to both, the other dogs and Loki. To the other dogs, I am now a barrier preventing their access to Loki. I refuse to let them come close to him and I wave about a stick to keep them at bay. They know now to stay away. Where Loki is concerned, he is now protected and he no longer needs to protect himself. So he doesn’t see the need to become ferocious. He is calm, while I deal with the other dogs. It’s been such an interesting learning curve. It makes me think about my own weaknesses too, in life. Maybe I have been very quick to defend myself against a whole load of people, including  bad bosses or troublesome friends. Loki trusts me to deal with his troubles. Do I trust God to deal with mine? This is a big question. I am not saying that we should tolerate abuse or wrong-doing. No. This was never meant to be tolerated because they are ungodly. However, in the past, I may have obliterated some of my foes. If Loki can trust me, with all my flaws and imperfections, can I not trust my Father in Heaven, who is flawless and perfect? This is a new prayer point. 

The other challenge that Loki’s disability brings about is that his stump hurts him when we walk. I had slowly built Loki up to walking for about 45 minutes to an hour, when all of a sudden, he started being unable to do this. He would limp and his bung leg would be all wobbly. It feels awful, watching this young pup have to go through this. He’s full of life, loves doing his walks, but instead, has to have days off without a walk. We can’t force it when the stump bleeds or is all swollen and red. I watch my little trooper respond to this and it warms my heart. On days when this little mischief maker is unable to go frolicking about outside, he contents himself with frolicking in our garden. He enjoys sunning himself in the balcony, sits and watches the world go by! He really does! He does not go to his leash to demand a walk. Instead, he rests his stump a bit more on those days and takes it all in. He waits for me to give him back scratches and cuddles and to take out his toys so he can play. The pain even affects Loki’s ability to jump out of the car. On those days, he patiently waits for me to come around and carry him out. He doesn’t seem frustrated. This has been really amazing to watch. It makes me think of my own illness and how it floors me just as I think I’ve got a grip. It’s been tough pulling back from things I’ve done so naturally in the past. It feels hard to be content when I’m forced to be still. Maybe these are yet lessons that I need: contentment in the face of adversity and the ability to wait on God to carry me out. 

As I write this, Loki’s rolled up in a little ball on his little bed. We have just come in from a walk and he did enjoy it ever so much. It struck me, how well paired we are – a doggy who needs to go a little slow because of a painful stump and his owner who is trying to fight her way through an RA flare up, who needs to learn to slow down. It is good that Loki isn’t in a hurry. He helps me see that it’s okay to slow down. I do thank God! I am so grateful that the one true God brought this little four-legged character into my life! Thank you, God, for Loki.