Sunny’s Hedgehog

A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

SUNNY HAD BEEN THE BABY of the family for four years. Darrell and Jen had adopted the reddish-blonde Golden retriever on their one-year anniversary, and since that time Sunny had enjoyed her only-child status. She accompanied them on road trips, was allowed on the furniture, and even was included in the family portrait.

Sunny reveled in the attention and was often teased by Jen and Darrell’s friends and family for being a bit of a princess.

However, her diva-like status was about to take a major hit.

The first clue was when Darrell and Jen left for several days without her. This had never happened before. Sunny liked her pet sitter well enough, but she wanted her people back.

On a cold January morning, Darrell and Jen came home. When the front door opened, Sunny greeted Darrell with a welcome-home jump.

But before Sunny could greet Jen with an equally joyful jump, Darrell pulled her back by the collar and held her.

“Gentle, girl,” he commanded.

Sunny’s nostrils began to quiver, and she raised her nose to take in a new scent. She looked as though she were asking, What is that? What is Jen carrying?

Then a strange cry filled the room.

Jen sat down on the sofa, holding a squirmy bundle in her arms. She nodded at Darrell.

Darrell got a firmer grip on Sunny’s collar and led the dog to the sofa.

Sunny wanted to jump up, but Darrell kept her in check. She sat in front of Jen and watched as Jen pulled the blanket back, revealing the tiniest human Sunny had ever seen.

Desperate to smell this newcomer, Sunny inched closer and closer. When she tried to lick the fidgety baby, Darrell pulled her back.

All day Sunny stayed close to Jen and the little person they called Andrew.

The next day, Sunny anxiously awaited her morning walk. But it never came. Darrell and Jen seemed more tired than usual. Sunny suspected the tiny human had something to do with their exhaustion.

Two days later, Sunny stood by the back door hoping to go for a ride in the car.

But Darrell and Jen never left the house. Instead, Jen’s parents brought over some tasty-looking things called diapers. Sunny didn’t know what they were, but she made it her mission to try to grab as many as she could—some tasted better than others.

Day after day, Sunny waited for her life to get back to normal.

But each day Jen and Darrell seemed busy with the baby. Holding him, feeding him, washing him, and talking to him.

Even though she was doing more observing than interacting, Sunny liked the little person. She felt a strong desire to guard and protect him, but she also missed being the focus of Darrell and Jen’s attention.

Days passed. Sunny decided to take a different approach.

Jen was sitting on the sofa holding the baby, so Sunny walked over to her toy bin and picked up her large stuffed hedgehog. It wasn’t quite as big as the baby, but it was close. She took her hedgehog over to the sofa and lay down with it nestled between her front paws.

Later, when Jen went into the nursery to feed the baby, Sunny lay down at Jen’s feet and positioned her hedgehog against her belly.

And that night, when Darrell and Jen put the baby in a large dish inside of the big scary bathtub and began to wash him, Sunny dropped her hedgehog into the bathtub for a bath too.

For two whole weeks, everything Jen did with the baby Sunny mimicked with her hedgehog.

Darrell and Jen laughed and smiled a lot at Sunny—although Sunny didn’t know why.

Then about a month after the baby’s arrival, Darrell asked Sunny if she wanted to go for a ride. Sunny jumped out of her bed and ran to the door—leaving her hedgehog behind.

After that day, Sunny didn’t play as much with her hedgehog. She didn’t seem to need it anymore.

Her life wasn’t like it was before, but it was okay. Now she had three family members to love.

Sunny suspected that by the way the baby was growing, someday he might be big enough to play with her. She was certain Andrew would be even more fun than her hedgehog.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

In what areas do you struggle most with jealousy? Do you long for peace and contentment in those areas? What are some differences between a peace-filled heart and a heart full of jealousy?

Paws & Pray

Lord, let me be someone who is marked by peace and contentment. Forgive me for being consumed by jealousy and envy. Father, I confess those feelings to you now and ask you to replace them with gratitude for what you’ve given me. Help me to embrace your perfect will for my life and release my insecurities to you.

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.