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Dana Rongione 05/08/2024 Dana Rongione 05/08/2024

Nature Versus Nurture

Tess is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She has a heart of gold and loves nothing more than being around people.

But there's one thing about Tess that never fails to amaze me. Despite her sweet and tender nature, she's still a terrier through and through. You see, terriers are bred to hunt small animals, and Tess is no exception. When we're out on a walk, and she catches a whiff of a mole in the bushes, it's like a switch flips. She'll dart off into the underbrush, and before I know it, she's got that mole in her mouth, giving it a couple of violent shakes before tossing it back into the bushes.

Let me tell you, it's a scary sight to behold. But Tess is a terrier. Hunting is in her nature. It's who she is. And just like Tess, we Christians have an innate quality that we can't eliminate, no matter how hard we try.

Dana Rongione 06/06/2024 Dana Rongione 06/06/2024

Houdini Strikes Again

We've finally had some nice weather here in Wales, and Tess and I have been taking full advantage of it. We were outside enjoying the sunshine the other day when I heard a soft whimper. I looked up to see Tess standing on the opposite side of the fence, crying to get back in. Despite our best efforts to secure the fencing, that little booger had found a way out again!

Honestly, I was frustrated with her. She knows she's not supposed to go outside the fence, yet she continues finding ways to escape. But as I watched her standing there, whimpering and looking at me with those big, brown eyes, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of compassion.

Dana Rongione 07/06/2023 Dana Rongione 07/06/2023

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Tess is undeniably adorable, but she's got a bit of a disobedience problem. She can't resist the urge to find a way out of our yard and into the sheep pasture behind us. Despite our best efforts to contain her, our mutt just can't help herself. Sound familiar? Observing Tess's behavior can give us valuable insights and lessons from a biblical perspective.

First and foremost, Tess's antics remind me of our human tendencies to wander from God's plan for our lives. Just like my pup can't resist the allure of exploring beyond her boundaries, we often find ourselves tempted by worldly distractions that lead us astray from God's intended path.

Dana Rongione 28/04/2023 Dana Rongione 28/04/2023

Doggie Days and Unmet Expectations

With the spring weather finally emerging here in Wales, Jason purchased and set up a two-seater swing for me to enjoy. I love spending time outdoors and curling up in a comfy place to read or write. After he set it up, Tess and I spent much of the day snuggled together in the plush swing. To say she was as excited about it as I would be an understatement. She loved it so much that she went outside by herself after lunch. When several minutes had passed, and she hadn’t returned, I went to check on her. Guess where she was. That rotten little thing was stretched out on the swing, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. In her mind, she had a new outside bed. After enjoying more time outside as a family that evening, Jason and I removed the cushions from the swing and brought them inside to keep them dry during the next few days of rain.

Dana Rongione 28/02/2023 Dana Rongione 28/02/2023

Battling Discontentment

Last week, Jason and I were in Manchester, England, for a missionary retreat. It’s a time for several missionary families to get together and encourage one another in the Lord. There’s food, services, and of course, fellowship. All in all, it’s a wonderful event.

Before leaving, Jason and I cleaned out the refrigerator to make sure we didn’t come home to any surprises. One of the things we needed to toss out was a partial loaf of bread already showing signs of molding. (In this damp environment, bread products do NOT last long.).

Dana Rongione 06/02/2023 Dana Rongione 06/02/2023

Too Much of a Good Thing

I absolutely love my office in our Welsh home. Unlike my workspace in our house in Greenville, SC, this room is entirely dedicated to office work. No bed, closet, piano, or anything else. Just desks, filing cabinets, and bookcases. And don’t let me forget the beautiful view of the Welsh hills beyond the sliding glass doors that occupy the entire front wall of my office. Breathtaking!

The one thing I noticed about this room is that it gets chilly in the winter. Because of the wall of glass, it can be a tad drafty, especially on windy days. That being the case, I have a small electric heater I can turn on whenever the need arises. And it didn’t take long to discover Tess’s favorite spot in my office is snuggled up right in front of the heater.

Dana Rongione 25/01/2023 Dana Rongione 25/01/2023

Chasing Peas

Remember the vegetable soup I told you about the other day? Well, it turns out, after smelling the soup cooking all day, our precious pup, Tess, decided she wanted to partake of it as well. She paced around the kitchen, staring at the crockpot and sniffing the air.

Being the softie I am, I scooped out a spoonful of soup and set it aside to cool. Once it was cooled down, I poured it over a scoop of dry food into her bowl.

Dana Rongione 16/01/2023 Dana Rongione 16/01/2023

The Blessing of Boundaries

On Thursday, Tess had surgery to be spayed. It was a necessary procedure, and thankfully, everything went well. When we picked her up after the surgery, the vet gave us the post-op instructions, including a strict command that she was not allowed to run, jump, or display excited behavior in any way for the next ten to fourteen days. Yikes!

It’s only been a couple of days, and we’re struggling to get our precious pooch to understand why she’s suddenly not allowed to jump on the bed or the couch and why she can’t run around the yard. The only way we can keep her subdued is to stay still ourselves.

Dana Rongione 11/01/2023 Dana Rongione 11/01/2023

The Tess Tea Party

Tess, our precious terrier, loves people and does not appreciate being left alone. We’ve had a few occasions where she’s gotten into things around the house while we were away at the chapel, but most of the time, she’s an angel. Last Sunday, however, was not one of those times.

As we entered the house Sunday afternoon after our morning church service, we immediately spotted the debris covering the foyer carpet. Destroyed plastic containers dotted the area. Tea bags—some intact, many not—littered the floor. Loose-leaf tea covered the room like fallen leaves on an autumn day. Yes, for some strange reason, our pooch decided to ransack my tea collection. Bad dog! Nobody messes with Mama’s tea!!!

Dana Rongione 02/12/2022 Dana Rongione 02/12/2022

Just Be

I hope you don’t grow weary of devotions about our dog, Tess, but my dogs always have so much to teach me. Or, should I say, the Lord has much to teach me through my dogs?

This morning, Jason and I were discussing our precious pup, who, at that moment, was snuggled between us on the bed in utter contentment. We contemplated which she enjoyed more—eating or sleeping. Then, we realized walking, hiking, and going on a card ride all topped the list of Tess’ favorite things. Ultimately, we agreed that she didn’t care what she was doing as long as she was with her people. Her favorite thing in life is just to be with us.

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Dana Rongione