It is disappoints me that my rough collie Savannah has trust issues. I’ve given her nothing other than love and the best possible care I can since puppyhood.

Okay, I admit—the drop foot is a problem for both of us. Drop foot is interwoven into the plot of my Christian cozy mystery, “Hole to Hell Mystery” https://www.amazon.com/Hole-Mystery-Stephanie-Parker-McKean-ebook/dp/B0GDG6T6GS . The condition causes me to fall when the foot I lift up when I’m walking falls down on its own accord. When Savannah walks in front of me she casts frequent sideways glances behind her to make sure that I am still there—and that I’m not about to fall. When she hears my shoe scuff—she runs far enough ahead that I won’t land on her if I fall.

The part about the trust issue that I don’t understand, however, involves the vet’s office. She loves going to the vet. We walk past it nearly every morning and she always goes in to say “howdy” to the folks there. Recently, they have started giving her treats—which has increased her keenness to visit. Our vet’s office is closed on Saturday.

When we walk past the vet’s office on Saturday, Savannah is determined to visit. I explain to her—every Saturday—that it is Saturday and that they are not open on Saturdays. She doesn’t believe me. She will stand at the gate waiting for it to magically open until I shake it and prove to her that it is locked. Then she walks around to the other side and we repeat the performance. “Savannah, the vet’s office isn’t open on Saturday. It’s closed. No one is there.” And, again, she doesn’t believe me and waits for me to shake the gate and prove to her that it’s locked.

She’s an extremely intelligent dog—as most collies are—and it bothers me that she doesn’t trust me to tell the truth. I make an attempt to reel memories through my head and stop the reel at an explanation. The only one I’ve found is that occasionally—and only occasionally—I will tell her, “no treats until you eat your food,” and then I relent and give her a few more chicken strips because it’s bedtime and she hasn’t eaten anything and I hate letting her go to bed on an empty stomach. She has chronic pancreatitis. When her tummy hurts she simply won’t eat. Not anything. Therefore, it is an every-single-day battle to get her to eat even with the medication I give her. So when she eats the food in her dish she is rewarded with hugs, pats, praise—and treats.

Finally, another explanation filtered through my mind. Perhaps she doesn’t have trust issues—perhaps she has incredible faith. Didn’t Jesus say in the Bible that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can say to the mountain, “move,” and it will be moved and cast into the sea? (He did.) Through prayer, Jesus has moved many seemingly impossible circumstances and difficulties out of my life and put me on the road to victory. Perhaps Savannah believes that if she stands at the gate and waits long enough—someone will open it for her.

Or, perhaps Savannah is a positive thinker. Christian evangelist and author Nick Vujicic was born with no arms and legs. He travels the world speaking positive encouragement to millions of people. He is married with four children.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s unwavering optimism brought his dream of equality for all people to the forefront and brought about great and positive changes that continue to mushroom and encourage others to share the dream and reach for it.

Helen Keller was deaf and blind. Her remarkable accomplishments continue to inspire millions.

Pastor Joel Osteen’s mother Dodie, who recently died at 91, survived for more than 41 years after being diagnosed with terminal Stage 4 liver cancer. God healed her, but she fought against the killer disease with unwavering prayer and positive thinking—declaring herself healed even when she was so close to death that she could feel it reaching out to touch her.

Perhaps I should let this trust issue go and comfort myself with the fact that my intelligent dog has remarkable faith and/or is a positive thinker.

Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a person thinks in their heart, so are they.”

So we will continue to stand there in front of the gate every Saturday waiting for it to open. And someday—maybe it will.

Amazon.com: Stephanie Parker McKean: books, biography, latest update