Psalm 145:9 “The Lord is good to all, and His
mercy is over all that He has made.”
When my son was little, we watched the movie All Dogs Go to Heaven many times. If you
have ever had a dog enter your heart and become part of your family, you just
can’t help but think this must be true. We have had three wonderful but extremely
different fur babies, and I would not have traded a second with any of them. There
is a famous quote (but I could not find its source) that says, “Dogs are proof
that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
This morning, I was watching pup number three
and contemplating her life, as I believe it is a charmed one indeed. She is a
quirky rescue with a rough start to life. She is so 100% herself all the time,
no matter how others feel about her; she makes no apologies for her
sensitivity. She is very smart, almost too
smart, and very empathetic. She barks when she senses danger, hears noises, and
wants to eat or go out. She loves being outside. She love naps. She sometimes
wants attention and sometimes wants to be alone. She is ALWAYS happy to see any
of her pack when we walk in the door. She is extremely choosy with the people
she lets into her life. She has one person, my son, who is her safe place and
in whom she puts her total trust. Most of all, like all dogs, she loves her
family unconditionally. She lives an uncomplicated and comfortable life where
she is well taken care of and loved.
I started thinking about how I admire these
things about her life, and wondering how her enviable life compares to my own.
Well, the first one is easy because I am already quirky. Unfortunately, I am
not always 100% myself with others, and am often overly apologetic for my
sensitivity. I do not consider myself super intelligent, although I would like
to believe I am empathetic. I am not much of a barker, and I’m okay with that.
I love naps and being outside, so I’m aligned with that. I like my solitude,
but like attention from those closest to me as well. I am always happy to see
those I love. My life may not be uncomplicated, but it is blessed. I am still
working on loving others unconditionally. I, too, have someone I trust above
all others and who is my safe place, and that is Jesus.
It is because of my relationship with my Savior
that I can work on these areas of weakness. Unlike my dog, who pretty much came
hard-wired, I am able to change and grow with the help of Jesus. It is through
the Holy Spirit that I can be bold with others about my faith and accept who God
made me. Even though I am a private person, as long as I yield to God’s
leading, He will provide opportunity for me to share the Gospel with others. When
my life gets complicated or storms arise, I can find comfort and peace through prayer
and in the Bible. I have been blessed with shelter, food, love, and – most of
all – the saving grace of Jesus.
I am as always a work in progress, whereas my
doggie is simply just a piece of work.
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