One recent morning Karla sent me a picture of her dog Teagan. At first glance I smiled and thought, How cute. She’s watching the world go by. But then I read Karla’s text, which stated, My current situation!   

Please tell me her head isn’t stuck! I responded.

Her reply: Extremely stuck!

Have you called someone? I texted back, feeling so helpless. I have a big heart when it comes to animals. Karla and I were just having the conversation the other day about how I don’t cry watching movies about people, but give me an animal movie and I’m toast.

I waited for her reply, but that was the end of the conversation for a while. Without knowing what was going on, I tried to piddle to occupy my mind. But I just kept thinking about the poor dog. I zoomed in on the picture and could see where she had chewed on the rails around her. Oh no, she has been there a while. But if her head fit in, it should be able to come out. Being 45 minutes away, all I could do was pray.

The Story

After quite some time, Karla texted, Sorry. Rick and Lisa were here. She is free.

Later Karla came to Rome to have her car worked on, and I got more of the story.

She had heard whining, went to check on Teagan and discovered she was stuck. The dog was too tense to get her head out, so she called her friends Lisa and Rick. The dog had panicked and pooped everywhere. She was also flailing her body (in all the poop) at times, trying to get free.

When they arrived, they tried working the dog’s head out, even rubbing oil around the fur on her neck. The conclusion was drawn that the board above Teagan’s head would have to be unscrewed or cut. They first tried a drill. But the angle of the wood wouldn’t allow it. So out came the hand saw. Karla gently held her mouth closed and loved on her to keep her calm. As the saw moved back and forth, Karla worried that when the wood gave way, or the saw would drop down quickly, but Rick had it under control. Soon Teagan was free, received a warm bath, and much needed TLC.

Help is On the Way

Later that day, my brother was telling Karla and I about a song by Doyle Lawson entitled, “Help Is on The Way.” It made me think about the dog and people. Sometimes in life, we are like poor Teagan. We are in a place that seems hopeless and we struggle and stress, but  just can’t get free. We have those around who love us, worry, and stress with us. They try to help us every way they know how. But what we forget in all the commotion, is that if we are believers, help is already on the way.

Teagan, being a dog, could not understand that concept. No matter how many times Karla told her, “Help is coming. It’s gonna be ok. Hold on a little longer.” She did not know that relief and freedom were forthcoming.

When we feel stuck in life, whether it is from relationships, finances, work, or health, we need to remember help is on the way. God will help. It might not be in the timing you would like, but He has a plan. Teagan would have liked to have been released much sooner, but he had to wait. Waiting is the hardest part. The chorus of Doyle Lawson’s song is so true:

“Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way

A brighter day is coming, for those who believe and pray

Help won’t help tomorrow, if you give up today

Just hold on a little longer, help in on the way.”