I have a dog named Izzy. Izzy is a great dog. Often, I wonder how I ended up with such a good dog. No, she isn’t perfect (she will betray me for a snack). But, in the grand scheme of things, Izzy is pretty amazing. She is perfectly house-trained and is generally quiet. Izzy looks to me for everything and is loyal. She is loyal except when a snack is involved. Do you sense a theme developing here? Although by nature she’s not loud, she will bark when my daughter’s dog, Winnie, gets started. Winnie is a great dog, too, but she has a barking problem. Izzy is happy-go-lucky, while Winnie is tense about everything.
Izzy is never far from me (unless she has a snack). She lies at my feet every morning while I am having my devotional time. When it is evening, she will look at me with those brown eyes of hers. Even though she can’t tell time, she knows it’s time to take a walk. The only thing in Izzy’s life that can rival a snack is a walk. When it’s walk time, her world turns around.
I’ve never had a dog to call my own before, so this is a wonderful new experience for me. All of our dogs have been family dogs, and I’ve loved and cared for them all, but none have been like my dog named Izzy.
Never satisfied
There’s a meme I’ve seen that says, “We don’t deserve dogs.” Their loyalty, even when owners are cruel, is remarkable. I can’t bring myself to read or watch any story that is about animal cruelty. I wonder how people can bring themselves to be so awful. God has given us His creation to enjoy, not destroy or abuse (see Gen. 2:15).
There are many gifts in life that we take for granted and forget to appreciate. Our families, good friends, a beautiful day, our jobs, our churches, and, if you are me, a dog named Izzy. These are gifts that we need to appreciate and enjoy. The problem is that we are never satisfied with what we have. We always want more.
Proverbs 27:20 NCV “People will never stop dying and being destroyed,
and they will never stop wanting more than they have.”
I have a lot to learn from Izzy
That relationship, spouse, job, and child are all gifts. It may be that they have more challenges attached to them than you think you are prepared to handle. Yet God gave them to you, and if you can trust Him, He will show you how to not only live with them but also enjoy them.
My dad told me on several occasions that a great dog is a rare find. I understand the message behind his statement. Dad understood that all dogs have the potential to be great. However, it isn’t easy to find people who are prepared to do what it takes to handle them in a way to realize their potential. The same principle holds in all areas of life. It may feel like the blessing you asked for came with baggage that you don’t want to open. You feel like it’s too much. But God, if you can trust Him, will walk with you as you unpack those bags. In the end, it will be worth all the effort.
The morning is cold, and I’ve turned on the space heater. And sleeping happily next to my feet is a dog named Izzy. I have a lot to learn from her.
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