I know, I know, dogs can't sin (the verdict is still out on cats)...but they can surely teach us about our sin nature.
Yes, it's true. This precious little face--
...this sweet little fellow with a relentless propensity to carry sticks--
...also seems to vastly prefer chewing on shoes, brooms, firewood, pillows, pens, and pencils rather than his very nice and readily available dog toys.
What is the deal with that?
We've tried to explain to him that these are not just any toys. Noooo...a number of these doggie playthings were purchased from the fancy doodle dog store at North Hills. These toys feature multiple bright colors, enticing squeaks, and interesting chewing surfaces. We have ropes, dragons, lambs, and several fabulous balls.
No matter. Bingley wants the blue pen rather than the blue, squeaky, lifetime-guaranteed dragon--
But isn't that just like us? God pours out His blessings upon us. Gift upon gift of health, home, family, friends, music, laughter, books, chocolate (of course). Not to mention His glorious creation--the brilliant blue sky...the bracing, clear, cold air...the nightly light show of stars...the soaring hawk and crimson cardinal.
And yet, how often do we whine and moan and long for more...for different...for those gifts over on the other side of the fence where the grass is surely greener.
God gives us bright blue squeaky toys and fun red balls...and all we want is to chew on some old blue pen that will make us sick. One leads to joy and thankfulness and hope and the full, abundant life...while the other leads to discontentment, irritability, selfishness, pride. ingratitude, and ultimate misery.
O forgive me, Father, for how often I'm like my silly puppy...running after all that would harm me (and those I love) while discounting, ignoring, or missing the daily wonders of Your abounding, generous grace all about me.
"Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it." (Prov.15:16-17)
Good reminders for those of us planning weddings...or prone to discontentment. Time to keep the main thing the main thing. Time to focus on the Lord...keeping Him and His glory and His goodness front and center. Thanking Him. Praising Him. Loving Him. Seeking Him.
"Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Heb.13:5) It's a choice--choosing contentment with what God has given us...or withheld from us. Choosing gratitude. Choosing joy--
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." (Phil.4:4)
O Lord, help us to choose wisely! Help us to choose to be grateful with all You have done for us, with all You are doing right now, and with all that You are. In You, we have a continual Source of joy and a continual reason to rejoice.
Let's stop fixating on the blue pen and focus instead on the Giver of all good gifts and on His goodness in our lives. To God be the glory.
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