Faith returned home

Dong….dong….dong….my eyes opened at the distant ring. It took me a moment before I recognized the bell sound was actually my phone. I clumsily searched my nightstand to find my Blackberry. Blinded by the display light, I squinted to read an incoming email announcing an emergency: ‘Hope you can help!’

Hi Laura Lee; Can you help me? I know that you do missing children and wondering if you help find missing animals? We lost our dog today and sick at the thought of what might have happened to her. My oldest does not want to wear covers because she says our dog is cold and she chooses to be cold too. Could you do a reading for us? Her name is Faith and she is a mixed black Lab; only 1 year old. Hope to hear from you soon, Tammy Swanson

I rolled onto my back, closed my eyes and sighed.

Okay, is the dog alive? If so, where is she?

In my mind, I see is a dog trekking through a harvested cornfield over a moonlight sky.
Come on…I yawned. That can be just about anywhere in the Midwest! Have you got anything else?

I patiently waited and felt myself drifting back to sleep. Then I saw the dog cuddled up next to a barn. She was licking a paw and then kneading her shoulder with her nose. My impression is that she was wounded by an animal; a dog. Then it went dark and I hear a soft whisper that she is within a mile radius of her home at some homestead that is often referred by neighbors as ‘Old’…. drifting back to sleep.

Minutes seemed to past before something smacked me silly awake. My daughter’s arm rested on my face. She sighed peacefully beside me.

Must be boos again…

Gently, I peeled her off when I noticed something lodged underneath my back. It was my phone. Tammy’s message remained in tact on the screen to remind me what was in store for my day. It weighed heavy.

Where my earlier visions for Faith return real?

A distant memory of joy returned when I reunited with my husky, Juno. She had gone missing on a ski trip in the Alaskan tundra. Goose bumps…I knew the flashback confirmed Faith’s return to the Swanson family were real. That hope gave me the energy to climb from my bed to deal with Tammy’s crisis. I slipped out from under the covers without disturbing my daughter.
Coffee was first on my agenda. Just as I began to sip from my cup, the bedroom door squeaked open and my little girl appeared beaming at my side, reminding me the best part of waking up. My phone in my office rang, but morning rituals were calling me. When I checked messages, Tammy had left another cry for help. I called her back immediately.

Tammy feared the dog was a victim from a hit and run. I reassured her that the dog was alive from what I could detect from my most recent visions through the night. She confirmed her dogs body wasn’t lying alongside the roads near her home, which I pointed out was a positive sign of my earlier insights. I shared that I got the impression Faith had been attacked from an animal, most likely, another dog. This news brought up more fear. Coyote had roamed in the woods near their farm. I affirmed that wasn’t what I saw, but it didn’t matter what I said because the sound of her voice conveyed despair. I felt the need to control the direction of our conversation, because her fear was beginning to distort my own perceptions.

“Listen Tammy,” I said firmly, “It’s most important that you and your family unite in a more positive light; believing your beloved Faith will arrive soon. You must be together on this ultimate goal.”

“Okay.” She submitted.

“That means you cannot submit to the scary scenarios presented by fear,” I paused, “do you understand?”

“Yes, I hear you.”

“Get your girls excited Faith has returned home.”

“Yes.”

“Now, Faith’s injuries appeared minor.” I reaffirmed. “And I see she has an engraved collar with her name.”

“She does…” Tammy trailed off with tears.

“Then that is a positive confirmation of her minor injuries,” I said, cheerfully.

“But,” she cried out, “the girls removed it!”

“You mean it is not on her neck?” I exclaimed, leaping from my chair. I quickly calmed my panic by taking a deep breath.

“No, the girls replaced it for a training choker.” My body tensed at the thought.

“Okay, look, you have a lot of support to make this reunion possible. Including your mom. I asked for her assistance in this matter. She told me to let you know that she was working on it too from the other side.”

Silence was on the other end of the line. I thought for sure I had lost my connection until I asked Tammy if she was with me.

“I had prayed she’d help us find Faith,” She whispered, choking back the tears.

“Oh good,” I replied, positively. “It is done.”

We said our goodbye and I was confident Tammy had the courage to move forward on her search. But, I felt exhausted.

Please bring peace to this family by returning Faith to their home immediately.
An image immediately flashed of Tammy’s email announcing Faith’s safe return. I wanted to believe, but after that last conversation, I started to have my doubts too. I remember then that I forgot to share my story about Juno. Hours passed; Tammy’s next call was more desperate than ever.

“We aren’t coming up with anything. Can’t you possibly give me any more leads?” She pleaded.

“Other than she’s within a mile radius from your home, the word Old…came to mind.” I paced searching for something more. That’s when I remembered. “Oh, yeah! I was supposed to share that I lost my 8 month old husky in Alaska. We searched for days on snowmobiles. It almost seemed futile, but she appeared on our doorstep after traveling 30 miles in snow and over a river to find her way home….It was amazing.”

“Hmmm,” she seemed bewildered. It was not what she expected but it was all I had to give.

And what was my point?

“So my point is…” I began, “that animals find their way home instinctively. They know here they are fed. Faith may return in time.”

“Right.” Tammy’s voice sounded discouraged.

“Okay, then,” feeling uncomfortable, “keep your sights on your families reunion with Faith!”

“Yeah,” she said, disappointed. “We’re working on it.”

Her fear casted shadows over any effort. I could feel my heart sink and realized, again, why it is difficult to work with missing cases. Later that night I received an update which didn’t exactly help my own anxiety over the issue.

Hi Laura; I didn’t have any luck. We searched every building and old house in the area. I ended up getting my car stuck in 3 feet of cow dung. I’m praying very hard that the angels give her the strength to walk to where I can find her now. If you have any other clues, please let me know. Thanks, Tammy

Good, she let go. I giggled at the thought. Sometimes we have to get knee deep in dung before ask assistance from the light.

I closed my eyes holding the vision of Tammy’s email announcing the family’s Faith returned. It helped me remain optimistic enough to reply that I had nothing new to share, but I’d certainly be in contact if this should change. An hour and forty-two minutes passed when another update from Tammy rang in.

Laura Lee; I’m soooo very excited. I was sitting in my kitchen and we all prayed really hard to expect a miracle and that Faith would have the energy to come home to us. Guess what?! She came home!!!!!! She has something wrong with her paw and covered with mud. Maybe it was because I got stuck?! Thank you! Thank you!

And then we all rested peacefully that night with a happy ending….indeed, 'Faith’ returned home.