by Carol Chisolm

I’m probably what some may refer to as a dog fanatic. Aside from allowing him to give me a kiss on the mouth, my dog gets to do just about everything else. When people ask me his name, I often give them this riddle, “He’s chocolate on both ends and double stuffed in the middle.”

Yes, Oreo is the cutest little poodle you’ll ever see. I love my little guy and he loves me. On occasion you might even hear my daughter say, “You love Oreo more than you love me.” To which I always respond, “Yes, because he doesn’t talk back.”

His most recent doggie caper, however, surprised me. Normally, Oreo likes riding in the car, even though he is less than enthusiastic about his doggie car seat, made from a little basket secured by the seat belts and a strap that attaches to his harness. But on this particular day, I made the mistake of breaking our routine by allowing him entrance through the driver’s side front door, rather than the rear one. This is where it all went wrong.

Instead of jumping into the back seat, Oreo immediately planted himself on the floor of the front passenger side of the car. No matter how much I pleaded, he would not move. So out of desperation, I went around the vehicle to the passenger side door. When I opened it, he jumped to the back seat.

Believing all was well, I opened the rear door to strap him in, but he immediately leapt back to the front. After the third heat in this hurdling event of jumping back and forth, front to back, I was livid and determined he would no longer be joining me on my car ride. And yet, I had no idea how I was going to get him out of the car.

It was clear Oreo was paralyzed with fear due to the stern tone of my voice. So, I tried coaxing him with treats. That didn’t work. I stepped out of the garage into the front yard and shouted, “Squirrel!” knowing he loves to chase them. That didn’t work. I had to devise a more strategic plan.

First, I closed the garage door and then opened the door from the garage to the house. Next, I closed the front doors of the car and opened both rear doors. Then, I stood on one side so Oreo could exit the other side. I even used a broom to gently nudge him out of the car leaving him nowhere to go but inside the house. A mere few minutes later? Mission accomplished.

Baffled by Oreo’s behavior, I wondered what had gotten into this normally obedient, mild-tempered dog. But then I realized before the carseat, he had been used to going from one open window to the next and now, he was being forced out of his comfort zone.

In that moment, God showed me our experiences are not that different from Oreo’s. We often get stuck in situations that feel comfortable even when they make us miserable or cause us harm. We get so used to the pain of abuse or the brokenness of loveless relationships we refuse to break out of “dangerous environments, because leaving the familiar for the uncertain is unthinkable.”

For years, I struggled from the shame of alopecia, overwhelmed with fear and the humiliation of being a bald woman in a society that places superfluous attention to outward beauty. Always afraid my baldness would be discovered and I would be the object of riducule, I hid my shame under wigs I hated because they were in my comfort zone. Itchy, hot, and unnatural, I had built a prison where no one else could see the real me, protecting me “from the negative thoughts and opinions of others”. But God saw the real me and gently nudged me out of my place of familiarity into a place of safety, until there was no other option but to run to Him.

God sees the real you, too, and has a plan to break the shadows that keep you confined to your comfort zone. He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above” (Ephesians 3:20) what we could ever dream. Even though I never imagined I would live life bald, God took the unthinkable and made it possible. He brought me out of familiar fruitless places to unfamiliar fruitful spaces and he can do the same for you.

“…When I’m feeble and overwhelmed by life, guide me into your glory, where I am safe and sheltered.” (Psalm 61:2b-3,TPT)


Carol Chisolm is a singer, songwriter, and author. Her inspiring lyrics and powerful vocals leave listeners wanting more. She is truly an anointed singer, who ushers listeners into the presence of the Lord with her captivating tones. She was named Songwriter of the Month (July 2020) by Nashville Christian Songwriters, International. She was one of the top five finalists in the 2021 You God’s Music Talent Showcase and named the 2022 Traditional Artist of the Year for the Tampa Bay Gospel Music Awards.

In 2019, Carol released her single and music video, “Wonderfully Made”. It was inspired by her long journey with alopecia. She calls herself a survivor after suffering many years with this autoimmune disorder, which results in hair loss. She coined the phrase “I have alopecia, but it doesn’t have me” to remind her that her identity is in Christ and not a reflection in the mirror. Carol has done it again. Her latest single, “Shepherd of My Soul” was released March 3, 2023. Carol’s music is available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and other digital services. You can follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joyfulpraizer, Instagram @carolchisolmministries, and on her website at www.carolchisolm.com.

Carol is a contributing author in the award-winning anthology, She Writes for Him: Black Voices of Wisdom and My Bald Is Beautiful: I Am Not My Hair. Her book about her personal alopecia journey, Breaking the Shadows: How to Embrace Your True Self and Live in the Light of God’s Glory is now available, along with a companion CD of 10 original songs included in the chapters of the book.

Carol is also an entrepreneur. She is the owner of CC Bookkeeping & Notary Services, LLC, helping the small business owner save time and grow their business by performing those time-consuming tasks that are important aspects of a successful business.