Becoming JoanJett,Becoming Me

I decided not to take JoanJett out tonight as I have been persistent in taking her the last week in spite of having hurt my back. Well tonight by back seems to think enough is enough. So I thought it would be a good time to give you a little background on Miss JoanJett. I have always wanted a Great Dane but didn’t want a puppy because I am just one of those people who cannot house train an animal. I have no patience whatsoever to clean up after my children much less a puppy. I had mentioned to my oldest daughter that I was interested in  a Great Dane but not to mention it to my husband until we found one . Well after a few prospects we found Joan in DeRidder,Louisiana which was out in the middle of nowhere. We talked to the owner and assured her that we had no intentions of breeding Joan because apparently the only other person interested in her  wanted her strictly for breeding. We asked her to send a picture and I have to say we almost didn’t get her because she didn’t look to healthy . I found out that she was staying outside and the male stayed inside because he was house trained. Joan had dug a hole underneath the doghouse and laid in a pile of fire ants and they tore her up! I felt so sorry for her I didn’t care what she looked like I just wanted to take her home. They had treated her with  some medicine and it seemed to be working. When we took her home the first thing we did was change her name. JoanJetts previous name was Dolce and she didn’t look like a “Dolce” to me so after we went through a few suggestions we came up with JoanJett because she was big and beautiful , she looked like a rock star , she was white and jett black. In the 80′s “I Love Rock in Roll” was my favorite song recorded by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts ,my favorite band. Lets just say I was very intrigued By this woman. I loved her hair ,her look, her voice , just everything, not that she would be too flattered that I named my dog after her but it was never meant to be an insult but very much a compliment.So there you have it that’s how my Harlequin Great Dane became JoanJett. Joan and my son Dane,go figure, bonded right away. Everynight since we’ve had her she sleeps in the bed with him and waits for him to come home. Joan also seems to need constant attention. She follows me around the house everywhere except the bathroom because I won’t let her in and she is jealous of other dogs and only growls at people she doesn’t like ,I personally think she has the gift of discernment. Writing this I realize that the whole purpose in doing this blog was to find  value in every person  and humanize people without labeling them or judging them. I am a believer I do believe in God, I love Jesus,and I depend on the Holy Spirit. I am not ashamed of that. However, I am ashamed that I am a believer who has judged people wrongly, gossiped and ridiculed my fellow brethren. I have been loud and spoke long when I should have shut up and just listened. I have poked my nose where it didn’t  belong and been a self-righteous hypocrite. I have voiced my opinion and festered over everything everybody else is doing because I was arrogant enough to believe if they just did things my way they would be better off because I have all the answers. I have come to realize I have a hard enough time trying to fix me and I can’t even do that but I know I have no place trying to tell others their way of believing is wrong and I am done arguing and trying to defend mine. The one thing my Mother prays for more than anything is peace and I always tell her and my kids that its better to have peace than it is to be right and if I am causing other people pain, hurt, or sorrow nothing should cause me to want to be right that bad. I say all that to say this; I am aware that I am imperfect and need to inform myself that neither is anyone else. In order for me to love others I have to make the effort even if it’s just one stranger at a time. What would have become of JoanJett if I didn’t want  to take her because she was sick . What if I rejected her because she was different and didn’t look as good as other Danes? Draw whatever parallels you want but I am thankful I chose to look past her appearance because this dog has brought joy to my life,she’s family. In the beginning I may have rescued her from cold winters,hot summers and litter after litter of puppies but in the process of this journey I assure you God is using JoanJett to rescue me from me.