A Spot

The first day I taught kindergarten my principal gave me a cute spotted stuffed dog with a card that said, “Everybody needs a spot”. Isn’t that true? Don’t we all need to feel like we belong and have our special place?

My dog has found her spot in the new house. We put a small area rug at the bottom of the stairs and she lays there and can look out the glass front door. Tigger the cat was quite traumatized by the move and found his spot the first day. Tucked in a dark place under the basement stairs is a small ledge just the right size for a fat cat. We put his cat bed on the ledge and he spends all day in his “spot”.

I haven’t found my “spot” yet, in this house or in my new town. I know it will take a while to figure it out. My high school daughter really needs a spot. We signed her up for varsity tennis camp, thinking it would be a great way to make friends and that being a part of the team would make her feel like she belonged. Well, day one was NO fun… My sweet girl was not welcomed with open arms and as her mom I was reminded of a saying one of my best friends and I have; “Moms are only as happy as their saddest child.” Oh my heart broke for her yesterday.

Today is a new day and surely it will also be a better day at camp. God didn’t orchestrate this move just to have my sweet Sarah give up the sport she loves, or have her confidence shattered. In Jeremiah 29:11 the bible states, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Eventually everyone in our family will find their “spot” in this new place. I just hope the skunk I saw crawl into our hosta plants by the front door doesn’t think that is his “spot”!!!