Stairway to Heaven--Not

Tasha is not fond of the stairs leading to the cellar. Her back legs are iffy and she understands that, if she builds up too much momentum, she might tumble near the bottom. If I need her to go out of the house that way (through the garage), I stand at the bottom to hold her up if she starts to fall.

Why not just bring her out the front way? Well, it gets complicated. Sultana the BadCat likes to follow us on our walks. There's coyotes in the woods and, though I am sometimes tempted because she's evil, I won't willingly serve her up as their supper. If she's outside, Tasha and I need to sneak to the woods via the garage.

Yesterday it snowed. Tasha, like all labs, LOVES snow. We had a very long walk in the woods with Tasha staying right with me the whole time. We came in invigorated, using the garage so I could dump my boots and snowy jacket in the cellar. Tasha was still so jazzed by the crisp weather that she bounded up the stairs ahead of me.

And came face-to-face with BadCat.

Tasha froze, fearing the worst--a vicious swipe from BadCat.

I admit, I froze with my dog. No way was I reaching around her to grab the cat from the front. One handles this cat with great fear and trepidation.

Tasha's legs started to give way and she began to slide back down the stairs. I jammed my shoulder behind her hind legs and hoisted her up into the kitchen. Fortunately the evil Sultana had fled the scene, chaos caused.

I wonder how often I get jazzed by walking with Jesus, then bound ahead only to find some frightening stumbling block in my path. Do my spiritual legs give way? Thank God that the Holy Spirit puts his shoulder into my behind and keeps me going.