What's Her Name?

Meet the newest addition to our canine pack. She is a blue-eyed 8 week old Australian Shepherd. She comes from the same rescue organization where Charlie came from. We now have 5 dogs ranging in age from 8 weeks to our old boy, Tanner, who is almost 13 years old. Some people think we are crazy having more than one dog. After all, they are just dogs. And they are quite a lot of work with caring for them and training them. With 5 dogs, it makes it difficult to be away from home for long periods of time. And rarely can you take more than 2 with you if you decide to bring them somewhere with you. And right now as I listen to her crying and whining to get out of her kennel at bedtime,there is a part of me that agrees. Puppies are a lot of work, along with their cute and snugly side. She is a loud little pup when she is stuck where she doesn't want to be. But most of the time she has been very quick to please and outgoing.

About a week before I got the pup, I decided to post her picture on Face Book and let friends and family help come up with a name for her. This has been amusingly interesting as friends and family have voiced their opinions and thoughts on what she should be named. There were family names, names I couldn't pronounce much less figure out how to yell it out in a hurry to get the pup's attention and names I am not allowed to use according to my children. They have a stockpile of names that may one day be called up to use for a future grandchild. It has been a few days since the little pup came into our lives and she is now in need of a name. I have held off naming her right away as I wanted to get to know her personality and to see just who she was before sticking a name on her that I would have to use on her the rest of her life.

This week as I have been reading through names and trying to decide on one, then deciding and changing my mind again, I am drawn to the words I hear from my own Master: "Before you were born, I knew you, I even knew the count of hairs on your head. I have called you by name."

How awesome to have such a close relationship with my Master that I was known and welcomed before I was even formed, before anyone else knew my name. Allow me to walk in the ways of my Master in a close and personal relationship.

Everyone, Meet Rainey