Timothy J. Verret

THROUGH FIRE, TAKEN HIGHER

Posted on September 26, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

dog sitting in front of campfire near body of water during daytime — Father God, thank You that through fire, taken Higher. It is through Your Son and our Savior and Deliverer, Jesus Christ, that through fire, taken Higher. When we are scorched and torched (BOTH) in the flame, charred and cooked (BOTH) to a death crisp and will-o’-the-wisp (an illusion that misleads; a pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground)(BOTH), Jesus gives His sons and daughters His Waters to extinguish the pain from every BOTH. Our burnt body and blazed gaze (BOTH) is taken Above Terrain (Heaven) for His Healing (down here). Gotta get personal! I’m now through fire! Where did this fire come from and how did it spread so fast? Has it been spreading for a while now and I just didn’t notice the heat until now? When questions like these, through fire. When answers like “*When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2),* taken Higher. No matter through fire or through storm (BOTH), I need Your Waters, Jesus, to extinguish my pain through fire, taken Higher. Please count me as Your sons and daughters through fire, taken Higher. Gotta get personal! I take on the pain of BOTH humans and nonhuman animals (your back might be to me, doggie friend in the picture, but I see you and I take on your pain through fire). Gotta get Him through fire (this unreal pain), taken Higher. I pray all of this in the Wonderful and Precious and Higher Name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, including my own name. This prayer is answered by my faith and my belief. Please help me, Father God, where my faith and my belief are lacking. Amen.

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH) through fire, taken Higher by Jesus, now and this daily leavened bread [BOTH].”)

When through fire, you will be taken Higher.

That said, you’re scorched and torched when in the flame.

That said, Jesus takes you Above the fire.

Without Him, your burnt body none “steak” claims.

When through fire, I will be taken Higher.

That said, I’m charred and cooked to a death crisp.

That said, Jesus takes me Upward the fire.

Without Him, my blazed gaze will-o’-the-wisp.

“When through fire, I extinguish with Waters,”

says Jesus. “My Waters I give, no pain.

That said, I take you Up, sons and daughters.

Without Me, through fire, how the Above Terrain?”

Gotta get personal! I’m now through fire!

Gotta get Him through fire, taken Higher.

(picture by photographer, Christoph Wesi, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/OHoTzVyeCak)

WE KNOW THAT AS “AMEN”

Posted on September 25, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

red Amen lit-up signage — Father God, thank You that we know that as “Amen.” We know that as “Amen” because we know this Son, this Savior and Deliverer, Jesus Christ. All and none, HE is that and this (BOTH) “Amen.” *“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).* “Amen!” Our pace and our full (BOTH) is Your Grace and Your Lull (BOTH). On a more personal note, I am a lonely cull INDEED. I think we all know the definition of “lonely,” right? But the definition of “cull” as a noun, what I found on Rhymezone, is “the person or thing rejected or set aside as inferior in quality.” Now, if that definition doesn’t describe EXACTLY how I have felt of late, I know that and this (BOTH) no other definition that and this (BOTH) would. I am feeling forgotten but am I REALLY forgotten by You, Father God? “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the Palms of My Hands; your walls are continually before ME” (Isaiah 49:15-16). Does this and that (BOTH) Bible verse sound like I am REALLY forgotten by You, Father God? The verse does say, *“surely, they will forget,”* and indeed they do. But forgotten by You? “I will not forget you, Timothy, for I am that woman who never forgets the son that is you, Timothy, of My Womb. I have compassion on you, Timothy. I have inscribed you, Timothy, on the palms of My Hands; your walls, Timothy, are continually before ME.” Now this right here, I know that as “Amen.” I pray all of this in the Wonderful and Precious and FREE Name of Jesus Christ, the Name that loves BOTH humans and nonhuman animals. This prayer is answered by my faith and my belief. Please help me, Father God, where my faith and my belief are “I believe….help my unbelief!” We know that as “Amen.”

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH] that I know that and this [BOTH] as ‘Amen’ this daily leavened [With Jesus, Born Again!] bread.”)

Without “Amen,” you stand no chance at Grace.

Without “Amen,” all will be your downf”all.”

You know that as “Amen,” you know this pace.

Your pace, God’s Grace, all for One, One for all.

Without “Amen,” I am a lonely cull.

Without “Amen,” none will be my comfort.

I know that as “Amen,” I know this full.

My full, God’s Lull, n”One” of my discomfort.

“Without ‘Amen,’ you cannot end with ME,”

says Jesus. “All and none, ME that ‘Amen.’

Know that as ‘Amen,’ know this as My FREE.

My FREE, My Gift, all and none Born Again.”

You might know me, this feeling forgotten?

God don’t forget. We know that as “Amen.”

(picture by photographer, Steve Harvey, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/Q4NFrDrQw-8)

FASTEN OUR FAITH BELT

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

curly-haired brown dog inside vehicle — Father God, thank You that we have Your Son and our Savior and Deliverer, Jesus Christ, why we fasten our faith belt. We will have twists and turns, ups and downs, hills and valleys (ALL BOTH) in our journey through. We will experience withdraw in ALL BOTH and will want to sever. Help us, Father God, to fasten our faith belt to Your Faithful Law in this bumpy ride. On a more personal note, I borrowed (or stole) the first line of the sonnet from the classic film, ALL ABOUT EVE (1950). Bette Davis, a real pistol of a woman, delivered this often-quoted line before entering a party: “Fasten your seat belts! It’s gonna be a bumpy ride!” Party or no party, you sure weren’t kidding, Ms. Davis! On an even more personal note, when the ride of my life is as bumpy as it is right now, I do have a tendency to withdraw BIG TIME and sever all relationships. I get into what I call my “aloof artist” role. Speaking of films, in Woody Allen’s INTERIORS (1978), the father delivered this not-so-often-quoted line to his writer daughter: “You act out the part of the aloof artist, and no one can get near you.” Yeah, that describes the aloof artistic me to a “T” (as in “Timothy”). Help me, Father God, not to act out the part of the aloof artist and instead let others get near me in my bumpy ride, even if I have to occasionally blow my horn in protest. “**Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing**” **(1 Thessalonians 5:11)**. I pray all of this in the Wonderful and Precious and Faith Belt Name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, including my own name. This prayer is answered by my faith and my belief. Please help me, Father God, where my faith and my belief are lacking. Amen.

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH] to fasten my faith belt on my aloof artist and bumpy ride this daily leavened bread.”)

Fasten your faith belt for a bumpy ride.

There’s your twists and turns in your journey through.

If you unfasten your faith, crash curbside.

If you fasten your faith, no bump into.

Fasten my faith belt for blowing my horn.

There’s my ups and downs, my hills and valleys.

If I unfasten my faith, falls forewarn.

If I fasten my faith, rises rallies.

“Fasten that faith belt, now more than ever,”

says Jesus. “Have you unfastened withdraw?

Have you unfastened faith to now sever?

I fasten Myself to God’s Faithful Law.”

If we unfasten our faith belt, fear felt.

That’s why Jesus is fasten our faith belt.

(picture by photographer, Jaron Mobley, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/GXAd4EbS2yU)

SENTIENT MEDIA: 30-DAY WRITING CHALLENGE

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

I am in a 30-Day Writing Challenge with Sentient Media. The challenge started on September 1, so I should be on Day 23. I am way behind (Day 11) but playing catch-up. I wrote the following that I feel very compelled to share with you:

Hi! My name is Blue, and I’m a Blue Heeler dog. My guardian’s name is Timothy.

A couple of months ago, Timothy tested positive for COVID and went into quarantine. At the time this occurred, I got very sick. At first, Timothy thought I might have caught COVID from him, but he took me to the vet to find out I tested positive for heartworms.

When the vet called Timothy with this bad news, the vet gave him a 15- to 20-minute “lecture” on the full vet treatment of heartworms for me. He was crying. When the vet was finished, the vet asked him, “Did you understand any of that?” He replied, in tears, “I heard not one word you said after you told me my dog, Blue, has heartworms.”

Timothy made a pact with a friend of his when he lived in Austin, Texas, when he was rescuing dogs like me, that if any of their rescued dogs came down with heartworms, they would not put them through the full vet treatment. They deemed this treatment “brutal.” They deemed it also costly, which it is, but it was the “brutality” of giving a dog like me poison and keeping me in a cage for many months to kill these heartworms that hurt their hearts. Many told him the full vet treatment is the ONLY curative treatment for dogs testing positive for heartworms. Timothy said to them, as what he would say of his own life: “It is the quality and not the quantity of life that truly matters.”

Timothy did much research to treat me holistically, and he has had me on holistic medicines for about a month now. I am doing so much better, looking great and feeling great, but not sure if I am cured yet. The holistic heartworm medicine is from Amber Naturalz called “HWF – Healthy Heart.” He also gives me “Breathe Easy” to help with my lungs. He gives me my doses of these medicines in the morning and in the evening. I don’t like the taste of it, but I love when Timothy gives me the medicines and afterwards holds me and hugs me and says, “That’s my Big Boy, Blue! I’m SOOOO proud of you! I just LOVE YOU!”

According to the holistic customer reps Timothy spoke to, in 16-32 weeks of being on these holistic medicines, he will take me back to the vet to get another heartworm test. We are BOTH praying it will be negative for heartworms.

Can you please pray for me and my guardian, Timothy, praying that I am cured of heartworms from these holistic medicines? I love Timothy very much, and I know he loves me more than just about anyone in this world. He is my best friend, and I am his best friend. Sure, I want to live with Timothy forever but, as he says: “It is the quality and not the quantity of life that truly matters.”

Love and blessings,

Blue

(I counted 499 words including “DAY 11”)💙

TOO ILL-PREPARED TO PUSH

Posted on September 23, 2021September 23, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

two brown fox — Father God, help me SURRENDER! I had an entire prayer written out, that was until my tablet crashed and so did the entire prayer. But it’s not lost on me why this happened. God said, *“SURRENDER! SURRENDER to the crashed prayer, because you said too much and I wanted you to know you’re too ill-prepared to push this! It’s already in the sonnet!”* Thank you SO MUCH, Father God, for helping me SURRENDER! What’s also not crashed on me is the Bible verse I listed in the crashed prayer: *“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).* If the sonnet below does not stake that very claim, then I have failed at writing it. But, as Father God stated, *“I’m too ill-prepared to push this. It’s already in the sonnet!”* My fox friends in the picture? BOTH of you are too ill-prepared to push each other so hard. I pray this short (too much crashed) prayer in the Wonderful and Precious and Plateau Name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, including my own name (*“He must increase, but I must decrease”*). This prayer is answered by my faith and my belief. Please help me, Father God, where my faith and my belief are decrease but *“He must increase.”* Amen.

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH] that “He must increase, but I must decrease” [John 3:30] for SURRENDER! this daily leavened bread.”)

You’re ill-prepared to push for your outcome.

It makes you ill to push your way to all.

It’s SURRENDER, not push, that’s your succumb.

Give God the control. Give God the end-call.

I’m ill-prepared to push for my results.

It makes me ill to push my policy.

It’s SURRENDER, not push, that frees insults.

Free God the control. Free God to be me.

“All are ill-prepared to push their own place,”

says Jesus. “Place ME Head of what’s your low.

Place ME Heart of what you try to outpace.

Pace yourself with me. Push not your plateau.”

To push our own agenda is ambush.

SURRENDER! We’re too ill-prepared to push.

(picture by photographer, cloudvisual, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/DCtwjzQ9uVE)

FREE UP AND FAITH UP OUR WEIGHTS

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

white cat on brown wooden fence during daytime — Father God, thank You that You Free Up and Faith Up (BOTH) our weights we try to carry of our own fates. We need not carry each weight of fear to face, break of hope, low esteem, or victim trap, because we have Your Son and our Savior and Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who Intently carries all weights as One Airy and One Gently (BOTH). When it comes to Gently, there is no other Gently Gentleman quite like Jesus. Most (it not all) human gentlemen can be so ungentle that it’s excruciating (at least to me). But Jesus is Light, Airy, Gently, just what our own souls need carry in His Name. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you Rest. Take My Yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am Gentle and Lowly in Heart, and you will find Rest for your souls.For My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light” (Matthew 11:28-30). When it comes to Bible verses, on a more personal note, I cannot recall any other Bible verses that Lighten me and Comfort me (BOTH) quite like *Matthew 11:28-30.* Each of these Bible verses make me feel so grateful to have a Gentleman of Erase, Tightrope, Upstream, and Handclap, just what my own soul need carry in His Name. I pray today to be able to be Light, Airy and Gently as my cat friend in the picture. The only thing heavy on him or her is that collar around the neck. Other than that, the cat is scaling these Bible verses: *“….if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20)*. Okay, I know it’s a fence the cat is scaling in the picture, but you get my drift (pun intended), right? I pray all of this in the Wonderful and Precious and Gently Name of Jesus Christ, and this prayer is answered by my Free Up and Faith Up. Please help me, Father God, where my Free Up and Faith Up is lacking. Amen.

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope in Free Up and Faith Up [BOTH] Jesus for each heavy weight of my own fates this daily leavened bread.”)

You carry your weight of each fear to face.

You carry your weight of each break of hope.

Free Up your weights by your God of Erase.

Faith Up your weights by your God of Tightrope.

I carry my weight of each low esteem.

I carry my weight of each victim trap.

Free Up my weights by my God of Upstream.

Faith Up my weights by my God of Handclap.

“Free Up and Faith Up all weights you carry,”

says Jesus. “I carry weights Intently.

Free Up all weights by ME as One Airy.

Faith Up all weights by ME as One Gently.”

We need not carry weights of our own fates.

Jesus is Free Up and Faith Up our weights.

(picture by photographer, Gerry Roarty, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/s/photos/faith-in-animals)

one pray anything to pay everything

Posted on September 21, 2021September 21, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

white and red robot on red table — Father God, thank You that one pray anything to pay everything. No amount of “dough” or “weigh” (no amount of anything or something [BOTH]) could ever repay what Your Son and our everyOne and someOne (BOTH), Jesus Christ, did for everyone and anyone (BOTH) on the Cross. What is one’s owe, everyone and anyone (BOTH) could never repay Jesus for what He did for one. We repay One with no amount of “dough” or “weigh” (no amount of anything or everything [BOTH]) except for what He did for one: LOVE! It’s that one LOVES One any day that is everyOne’s owe. It’s that One LOVES one every day that is anyOne’s repay. One one LOVES; one LOVES Up Above. There won’t be one the One won’t claim offspring; one pray anything to pay everything. *“The one who does not LOVE does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE” (1 John 4:8)*. I just can’t see that it gets any clearer than that One! And yet, on a more personal note, *“for now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12)*. It was my favorite film director, Sweden’s Ingmar Bergman, who first brought to me this Bible verse in his masterpiece, THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY (1961)(see end of sonnet). Neither the verse nor the film (BOTH) has ever left my heart. Speaking of “has ever left my heart,” championing God’s nonhuman animals will n”ever” leave my heart as long as they suffer. They do suffer, and I am one the One has called forward as a nonhuman animal welfare advocate *“for GOD IS LOVE”* them. There isn’t one nonhuman animal I won’t claim as offspring ***“for GOD IS LOVE”*** them. And one day (*“for now, I see through a glass, darkly”*) I’ll claim BOTH humans and nonhuman animals as offspring ***“for GOD IS LOVE”*** them. But with my limited understanding, might that one day for BOTH be NOW? I pray all of this in the Wonderful and Precious Name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, including my own name. This prayer is answered by my faith and my belief. Please help me, Father God, where my faith and my belief are lacking. Amen.

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH] to pray anything to pay everything to the One who paid everyone and anyone, including me, “for GOD IS LOVE,” this daily leavened bread.”)

When you pray anything, pay everything.

You pay off your debt to the One you owe.

When you pray to love someOne anything,

you pay lovely to owe everyOne “dough.”

When I pray anything, pay everything.

I pay off One what I could not repay.

When I pray to love anyOne something,

I pay lovely to repay One my “weigh.”

“You pray anything to pay everything,”

says Jesus. “You pay ME for who I LOVE.

It’s you I LOVE any day anything.

It’s ME you LOVE every day Up Above.”

There won’t be one the One won’t claim offspring;

one pray anything to pay everything.

(picture by photographer, Karsten Winegeart, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/d5mzPmBV6nc)

Ingmar Bergman’s THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY is one to watch. If I tell you how much I create from just that one film, you wouldn’t believe it. You can watch the trailer of this one to watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwu80rk5xds

THE DROUGHT OF DOUBT

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

gray koala on person shoulder — Father God, thank You that the drought of doubt is when Jesus Rains Up us. It’s just like the world to tell us that rain must fall down, when Your Son and our Savior and Deliverer tells us He Rains Up us. **The world is a soaked spout (gush forth in a sudden stream or jet; talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner), but Jesus Rains Up us in the drought of doubt.** The world is every drain, but Jesus is very quench. “Jesus said, ‘but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). The world is panting postpone and fading flower (BOTH), but Jesus is “Go Through” and “Growth Tree” (BOTH). The world is dried up every body’s bone and every waking hour (BOTH), but Jesus is Rains Up us. We have the Breath of Belief in Jesus when the world wants to give us the drought of doubt. “*I believe….help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)*. On a more personal note, no chance in a million I’m not down for rescuing one of God’s nonhuman animals when Jesus Rains Up me. Thank you, my compassionate human friends in the picture, for rescuing that soaked koala bear. You are a shining (and raining) example of extending love, compassion and mercy to God’s nonhuman animals. Jesus is so Up for that! Jesus is also so Up for extending love, compassion and mercy to BOTH humans and nonhuman animals. I pray all of this in the Drenched and Poured (BOTH) Name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, including my own name. This prayer is answered by my faith and my Breath of Belief (***“I believe….help my unbelief”)***. Please help me **where my faith and Breath of Belief (***“I believe….help my unbelief”)*** are lacking. Amen.**

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH] for Jesus Rains Up me in the world’s drought of doubt this daily leavened [Jesus Pours Up!] bread.”)

Doubt will dry up your every body’s bone.

Doubt will dry up the very soul of you.

The drought of doubt is your panting postpone.

The Breath of Belief is your God’s “Go Through.”

Doubt will dry up my every waking hour.

Doubt will dry up the very plant of me.

The drought of doubt is my fading flower.

The Breath of Belief is my God’s “Growth Tree.”

“The drought of doubt down is for Up My Rain,”

says Jesus. “I Pour down on you My Drench.

You’re Drenched down My Love for your every drain.

You’re Poured Up My Love for your very quench.”

The world is drought, but world’s words a soaked spout.

Jesus Rains Up us for the drought of doubt.

(picture by photographer, Simon Peel, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/K5V-MSPTalc)

HIS KINDNESS IS HIS YOKE

Posted on September 19, 2021September 19, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

man in black jacket riding white cow during daytime — Father God, thank You that His Kindness is His Yoke. Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Savior and Deliverer, gives us His Kind Yoke that is unbind and behind (BOTH). *“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM Gentle and Lowly in Heart, and you will find Rest for your souls. For My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is LIGHT” (Matthew 11:29-30).* The world’s yoke is BOTH heavy and cruel combined, but the Yoke of Jesus is BOTH gentle and lowly. And the Yoke of Jesus is not only for humans; it is for BOTH humans and nonhuman animals. In picture particular, it is for BOTH oxen yoked. *“Even oxen, I AM KIND,” says Jesus. “My Yoke Burdens no living, breathing plight.”* The world’s yoke is sizzling “Son”stroke, but the Yoke of the Son? His Kindness is His Yoke. For every quest taken for BOTH humans and nonhuman animals, Jesus says, *“Don’t tow! Rest!”* On a more personal note, not one thing I want from this world that drags me unkind and seeks to bind (and unrest) my soul. I’m “dragged” by One, the Yoke of Jesus, who Easy “drags” me unbind and behind (BOTH). I “Go!” unburdened; He’s “Ahead!” unburdened (BOTH). Join me and Jesus (okay, Timothy, they’re getting really tired of all your “BOTH”😉) for His Kindness is His Yoke? I pray all this in the Wonderful and Precious and Yoked Name of Jesus Christ, the Name above every other name, including my own name. This prayer is answered by my faith and my belief (don’t say “BOTH,” Timothy!😉). Please help me, Father God, where my faith and my belief (no, Timothy!😉) are lacking. Amen.

(God’s Sonnet by Timothy J. Verret; “it’s how I cope to hope [BOTH] in being ‘dragged’ by His Kindness is His Yoke this daily leavened bread.”)

The world is a yoke that drags you unkind.

It drags you every way it says you go.

The Yoke of Jesus is kindness unbind.

What the world says, “Go!’ What He says, “Don’t tow!”

The world is a yoke that drags me unkind.

It drags me to darken my every quest.

The Yoke of Jesus is kindness behind.

What the world says, “Ahead!” What He says, “Rest!”

“Take My Yoke upon you, for I AM LIGHT,”

says Jesus. “Even oxen, I AM KIND.

My Yoke Burdens no living, breathing plight.

The world is BOTH heavy and cruel combined.”

Yoked to the world? It is sizzling “Son”stroke.

Yoked to the Son? His Kindness is His Yoke.

(picture by photographer, Varun Verma, available for free without copyright laws at https://unsplash.com/photos/kbBPQRnlVag)

“WILDERNESS WALKING”

Posted on September 18, 2021September 19, 2021 by Timothy J. Verret

(a short fiction [or nonfiction?] story by Timothy J. Verret)

I was doing my usual “wilderness walking” today when I encountered something (or someone?) strange. It was a donkey in the woods. As I am never prone to call an animal an “it,” I did wonder if the donkey was a “he” or a “she.” And as God has blessed me to be able to speak to every animal, I had no problem asking this question of the donkey. I also wanted to know what the donkey was doing out in the wilderness.

“Hi, my donkey friend,” I said, “Are you a ‘he’ or a ‘she?”

“Does it matter anyway?” the donkey asked.

“Of course it matters, because you are not an ‘it’ to me. I call all my animal friends by their gender and most definitely by their name.”

“I am a He, and my name is Jesus.”

“Okay, well it is very nice to meet you, Jesus, but I do wonder why are you in the wilderness? I have never in my life encountered a donkey in the wilderness.”

“I am here because My Father sent me away from my previous master who beat me all the time and forced me to carry so many things on my back.”

I wept.

“I am so happy that your Father sent you away from this master who sounds just horrible,” I said with tears streaming down my face. “I can promise you that I will never beat you or force you to carry anything on your back again.”

“There has been only One Man that I have ever allowed on my back, and His Name was also Jesus,” said the donkey.

“How interesting. You allowed a man named Jesus to get on your back and your name is also Jesus. What happened to that Man named Jesus?” I asked.

“They put him on a cross and crucified Him. I was there when it happened. That is why I have this cross on my back.”

“Is it okay if I approach you?” I asked Jesus. “I want to see that cross on your back.”

Jesus motioned me closer and, yes, indeed was there a cross on his back. It was of a rainbow color and it was simply beautiful.

“Will the cross ever fade away?” I asked Jesus.

“Never!” he replied. “It will stay on my back in remembrance of the One I truly loved and will always love.”

“It sounds like BOTH of you were quite a pair.”

“I’ve been looking for another One who I can truly love and will always love. Do you think it could be you?” Jesus asked.

“I would be so honored, Jesus, to be the One you truly love and will always love. I spend most of my time walking in this wilderness and talking to all the animals, so I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“That is so interesting that you just said that. The One I truly loved and will always love used to tell me that very thing. He said it was in some book in some chapter in some verse.”

“I know it quite well, Jesus,” I said. “The Book is the Bible and it’s in Chapter 13 of Hebrews and it is verse 5.”

“You think you might come here often and read that Book to me?” asked Jesus.

“Of course I will,” I said. “Every day for as long as you live and to the Very End of the Age.”

Jesus wept.

I moved even closer to Him and put my arms around Him.

“There, there, Jesus,” I said with tears streaming down my eyes, as well. “There won’t ever be another One like you. I can tell you that much. You must take heart, as I have overcome all things in this world that might try to beat you or make you carry things on your back. You will always find me ‘wilderness walking.’”

“Thank you so much. By the way, you never told me your name. What is your name?” Jesus asked.

“I AM JESUS!”

(picture by photographer, Vince Gx, available for free without copyright laws at: https://unsplash.com/photos/33DJx0Yb2cA)