That Dog of Mine!!

I have a female blue healer about 4 years old who is very smart and understands full well a few words, especially associated with the tone of my voice. Just to hear me say angrily “that dog ate that cat food AGAIN even though I thought it was out of her reach.” That dog skittered quickly to hide under the bed, knowing she had done wrong. Later when she came out, we had a training session where her feeding bowl was presented to her in a sweet “yes this is good” voice along with a treat in the bowl, and when the cat’s plastic bowl was presented with cat food in it ---the tone spoke a firm “NO—bad dog” and she acted shamed, head bowed, ears flattened. This was repeated three times and she was given the positive love and treat in the end from her bowl. (Hopes that training works, but it will be best to be wise and put the food higher.)

Later while sitting on the porch and playing ball with her, the thoughts came into my head that we would be wise to associate ‘bad’ food that is not good for us with the “firm NO!” We should wise to associate with all temptations the words--- “NO---BAD human!” Too bad we are not a trainable as that dog of mine.

No sooner those words thought, and here comes the Holy Spirit with His reply that leaves me smiling---“Yes indeed—too bad you are not as obedient as that dog that loves her master so—she chooses to please instead of misbehave.” (You do know that God reads your thoughts, don’t you?) Oh, God only knows me too well, that dog is more better behaved than I. She doesn't growl just because I am irritable and annoyed, she just gives you the quizzical look of "What's wrong?"

That same dog of mine greets me with wiggles and licks and joyous hovering around my feet whenever I come into the door even if I am only gone for less than an hour. “Too bad, I don’t act the same way when God checks in on me every time I have gotten into the world that I fail to be aware---“God is here---Yea, God is here!!” My spiritual training was coming on strong today from that dog of mine.

Tonight, I realized that it was me by myself and I was wondering what to do with my free time. “Lord, how about we just visit and have a prayer meeting with me, myself and You?”

“About time,” the words came out of my mouth. “Yes about time indeed—what has taken you so long to come and visit with God?”

Maybe if we acted like our pets more and loved our Master like they do, ---maybe we would be constantly at the Master’s feet every chance we could. Maybe we would love to walk with Him, and see what all we could sniff out and hope that He would throw that ball so we could fetch it and come running back again---“Look, I found that gift You gave and brought it back to You!”

Not only as a child should be walk in faith—but also too---like that dog of mine and yours too! Thank God for the lessons and love those pets give to us! My old demented, half blind cat---teaches me patience faithfully every day, as he slowly walks in front of me every time I go into the kitchen. “Hope she is going to feed me again, I forgot when I ate last”---his actions seem to say.