I’m Going to the Dogs in a Good Way!

This past week I have been dog sitting for my sweet friend Marian. Little Phoebe has only been with us for a few short days, but she has taught me very valuable lessons about life. As humans, we tend to take ourselves way too seriously and get so caught up in the troubles of the day we forget to enjoy the simple things in life. Here are some lessons I have learned this week:

1. Dogs Don’t Judge! A dog couldn’t care less what your job is, how much money you make or how you dress. They don’t care about the kind of car you drive, or your designer sheets. Not that I have designer sheets, I’m just making a point. It didn’t matter to Phoebe whether I stayed in my pajamas to take her for a walk or if I showered and dressed. She was always ready to go! Wouldn't the world be a better place if we looked beyond each other's stuff to just love one another for who they are and not what they have? Share on XWouldn’t the world be a better place if we looked beyond each other’s stuff to just love one another for who they are and not what they have? God tells us in His word,

Matthew 7:1-3 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

2. Dogs are Adaptable! Phoebe came into our home not knowing me or our household very well. Yet, she has settled right in like she has always been a part of the family. Phoebe has slept in our bed with us from the first night she stayed at our home. Her owner told us she usually likes to get up around 7:15 am. Guess what? She now sleeps to 8:00 am and then I have to prod her out of bed. My husband and I work from home and she’s very content with just hanging out, playing with her toys or sitting in our laps. Things don’t have to go her way in order for her to be content and have peace. I wonder how much easier our lives would be if we could learn to adapt when we need to and go with the flow rather than demanding our personal expectations be met. Peace comes when we can be at peace with ourselves and our surroundings!

Philippians 4:10-12  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

3. Dogs Forgive Instantly! I love that dogs do not hold grudges or remind you of the things you haven’t done for them. All a dog cares about is how they can love you more! A dog is eager to please you even if you mess up! They come running to you with their tail wagging and happiness in their walk, and put their head in your lap. We all mess up from time to time. However, we tend to say we can forgive, but we can’t forget. Are you really forgiving when you can’t forget? I think dogs set a better example for us than we do for each other. I’m thankful when Christ died on the cross, He forgave us as far as the East is from the West. Jesus paid the price for us to be forgiven instantly, don’t we owe the same mercy and grace to each other? Are we saying we deserve more than God does when we tell others we can forgive and not forget?

Ephesians 4: 32: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

4. Dogs are Loyal! No matter what kind of day you have had they will always greet you with a wagging tail. A dog will sit by your side when everyone else has abandoned you. They will put their head in your lap when you are sad and try to cheer you up with their antics. They will lift your spirit and improve your mood by a thousand percent. Even if you holler at them for no reason they will still come back to you as if you never did anything. God is the same way He will never leave you or abandon you. In fact we can’t even separate ourselves from Him. God is always waiting with arms wide open for us! Even when we mess up, God is loyal to His children.

Romans 8:37-39: No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us.   And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5. Dogs are Protective! It doesn’t matter how big or small your dog is, when faced with danger they will do their best to protect you. When someone comes to your door they are the first to alert you. They will bark or growl until they decide it is safe. They will fight for their owner and in some cases have even give their life to protect their owners. You know who else is a fierce protector of mankind? God! God is always on our side and He is just as fierce in protecting us. How do I know this? Because God protected us from eternal death by making His son Jesus a living sacrifice for our sin. With God we can always trust we are safe!

Psalm 91:1-6: Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, “You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust.” He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you. You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.

6. Dogs are Loving! Maybe a dog isn’t loving to everybody, but they are to their owner. They are sad when you have to leave and so excited to see you come home! A dog loves you at your worst and your best. They also have a keen sense to know when you need extra love too! Your mood isn’t dependent on your dog loving you. A dog loves you simply because you loved them first.  Sound familiar? Of course it does because God loved you first! God loves you simply because you are His child. We live in a dog eat dog world, but the one thing I know is that God wants to be your best friend!

John 15:13: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

There is a reason that a dog is called man’s best friend. Maybe, it is because dog spelled backwards is God. Animals can teach us to be better humans. We can learn life lessons from so many things that God has created for our enjoyment. Usually the saying, “My life is going to the dogs” has a negative connotation, but this time it is a GREAT thing! My life is going to the dogs in a good way! What are some lessons you have learned from dogs?