Our son’s country house lies in a quiet valley where deer roam freely and nature reminds us to slow down…..slooooow doooowwwwn. This afternoon we walked a half-mile or so from his house down the winding, walnut-grove-lined road to a destination point, and his golden retriever, Riley, accompanied us.
We were greeted by a rain-swollen river, gurgling and churning with a swift current, and sparkling with blinding sun-glitter. Riley, being a water dog, took one look and without hesitation - spooosh - he was quickly submerged to his shoulders!
We took turns throwing sticks for Riley to fetch; the current hardly deterred his swift, strong strokes in deeper water. Finally, after a good swim-workout, he retreated to a patch of tall, dry grasses along the bank where he rolled and thrashed in wild abandon.
Meanwhile, the sun bathed our shoulders with unseasonal prickles. It was good to be outside under blue skies, breathing fresh air - especially after receiving hard news that a friend back home was diagnosed with stage three (advanced, inoperable) lung cancer today.
We started back home, hating to bid the river good-bye, but grateful for a few moments of childlike abandonment with good companions: a playful dog, a beautiful river, and hope in a faithful God that promises not to fade.
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