I Squirmed, I Saw, I Conquered

I squirmed, I saw, I conquered

I ran into our dog trainer.  I spent thirty minutes talking to him about my fear of walking my dog, tips for integrating new dogs into the pack, vet visits, and many other fascinating insights my fabulous dog trainer has.  He has a knack for breaking things down to the basics and communicating not just the facts but the emotional aspects of relating to dogs.  He is amazing.

This was the first time I've met my dog trainer since he returned home from getting surgery to change gender.  I wasn't as flummoxed as I imagined I might be.  I was very conscious of the pronouns I chose, but soon I was reassured. I looked straight into his clear blue eyes as we talked and saw the soul of a Child of God.  I appreciated all of the traits and characteristics in this man that I loved when my dog trainer was a woman.

My young sons were with me that day.  As we walked to our car my eleven year old said, "That guy reminds me so much of the dog trainer that came to our house."  After they were buckled securely in their seats and I started to drive, I bit my lip and said a silent prayer.  Should I explain about transgender issues to my young boys?  I felt a green light in my heart.  I took a deep breath and said, "You know, that guy is the dog trainer that comes to our house."  I explained that she had decided she would be happier living on earth as a man and had changed her name and had medical help changing her body to be like a man's." I knew my son was puzzling over the full beard and maybe more.  But I forged ahead to what I felt the crux of the matter really was.  I asked him, "Do you think Heavenly Father loves the dog trainer less because she changed her identity to be a man?" He was thoughtful for just a moment.  He replied that he believed Heavenly Father loved him just the same.  "Then what should we do?  Should we love the dog trainer the same as before?"  He nodded and confidently said yes.

That was a very good day.  A difficult subject arose that I had not prepared for.  In my own mind I wasn't sure I was able to accept that someone could change such a fundamental part of their identity.  But I saw the beauty and goodness in an individual that has struggled through a personal crucible that could be viewed by some in the world through critical eyes.  I know now that the dog trainer and everyone else who has wrestled with transgender issues is not on trial.  I respect that my dog trainer friend is not accountable to me or any other mortal person for his decision to change his gender.  And God loves him just as much as He loves me and anyone else.
(This is not a picture of my dog trainer.)