Sticker (Ann)

I found myself driving to Fidos For Freedom, Inc. on a beautiful Saturday morning in June. I was on my way to training as I was beginning the process of being matched with a successor dog. Being matched with a service dog is a lengthy process, the first part of which involves 30 hours of training with different dogs on the training floor that are waiting to be matched. Each dog has its own personality and it's a fun "speed-dating" exercise to figure out which dog meshes well with which handler. That day, while stopped at a stop light, I had my window cracked 2" to let in a breeze. A sticker floated in through the small space and landed, sticky-side down on my right shoulder. I looked at it and it was a "COVID screening" sticker dated that day (June 18). I brushed it off as an odd coincidence and went to training. That day, the dog that I was working with was being particularly difficult and I left training feeling a bit defeated.

When I got home, I realized that day was exactly 8 years from my first training session at Fidos when I had first worked with Nala, my (now retired) service dog. Nala was the first dog that I had worked with on the training floor and I immediately fell in love. However, I had gone on to work with other dogs as a part of the process and had many training sessions that were challenging at times. I grew and learned from each challenge and it only helped to strengthen my partnership with Nala. When that sticker floated into my window that day, it seemed like a reminder from God that He has been and will continue to be with me along this journey and is working all things for my good. All of the dogs in training that I was working with on the training floor were born and raised during COVID so I thought that it was an added sign to have that type of sticker float into my window and land on me. In addition, the pandemic has caused a mantra of being stronger together--of uniting together for a cause. What better unity can you feel than to feel united with God as He guides you to fulfill His purpose for your life?

I am so excited to see what God has in store for me with this journey that has already led to countless holy moments!