Anxiety and Chocolate

Some of my dearest friends struggle with anxiety.

I can’t understand it, but I know it is real. It can paralyze them, suffocate the life out of them, and bring them down a spiraling dark hole – a hole they cannot climb out of, not without help.

I can pray for them. I can help them when things are difficult, but I cannot know what they are experiencing.

This post is not about that kind of anxiety…

It’s about my dog…Stay with me people.

She pretty much stopped eating the other day. So I took her to the vet.

This dog has never been a big eater…but dogs are not supposed to fast.

So the vet called me back to tell me the diagnosis for my precious pooch who wouldn’t eat.

The verdict?

Anxiety.

I am really glad she gave me the diagnosis over the phone because I struggled to keep from laughing. Anxiety for a dog? Seriously?!?

The vet then asked if things had changed at home recently…

..Uh, let’s see…

“Some dogs struggle when school gets out and the kids are home all day. Or some can’t handle repairmen. . .”

School ended two weeks ago, but even more significant are the repairmen who will be at my house for the next month, at least…

Now I have three children and a highly sensitive dog.

So how can we get my sensitive dog to eat?

A bland-ish diet of canned food mixed with dry kibble. Did I mention I can’t stand canned dog food? Its the smell. It makes me gag and I have quite the gag reflex. Just ask my kids.

Plus we are going to try a nutritional supplement called “Comfort” for her.

I have a nutritional supplement I call “Comfort” too, it is otherwise known as chocolate. But chocolate is poison to dogs so I don’t know what is in my dog’s supplement.

Just so you know my sweet dog actually ate tonight. Perhaps we are on the right track.

And honestly I’ve been a bit anxious this last week. Repairmen in my house, VBS next week, a midterm paper due on Sunday, my L’s birthday party on Saturday, and my precious in-laws coming in town this weekend. And I look at it all and it could crush me. Yet some how as I plug along a little at a time it doesn’t crush me. God blesses it and He keeps whispering in my ear…His truth…like…

“Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“…casting all your cares on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

Maybe my real comfort doesn’t need to come from a nutritional supplement…Maybe I need to keep my eyes on Jesus.

What do you do to keep your eyes on Jesus instead of all the things around you that beg for your attention?