A Stray Dog and a Lesson on Love.
A lesson about how God loves and views people. And how that can pour into my heart and overflow to others.
The Story
I went to play softball with our youth at a nearby city park Friday evening. When I pulled in the parking lot for the ballfield, my sisters and I noticed that a beagle type dog was wandering around the parking area.
I wondered whose dog it was, but figured it was probably someone nearby simply had it off leash and would soon be going home. Grabbing my glove and water, I walked with the girls up to the bench on the sidelines. Another girl and I began pitch-and-catch to warm up and practice. All the while, I kept seeing that dog out of the corner of my eye.
Well, once we finished throwing and were standing around chatting with a few of the other youth, people wondered a bit aloud about this dog. At this point, she (I could tell it was she by her sagging underbelly) came fairly close to where we were standing, just sniffing and seeing what was going on. Some of the more softhearted animal lovers among us stooped to pet her.
I went over to give her some attention, and she was the absolutely sweetest dog. It was quite obvious by her body condition that no one had taken care of her for a while. Her nails were long, various scratches and abrasions dotted her short coat, and she was very thin.
I privately decided to call her Sweet Girl. And to take her home if she was still around when we went to leave.
Several times she wandered into the ball diamond, and I felt it my privilege and duty to get her back out so that she didn’t trip anyone.
Towards the end of the first game, I saw her walk towards another ball field, at which point it was getting fairly dark out. I felt a mild bit of concern but was also hopeful she would stay around. (I really wanted to bring her home and clean her up.)
Needless to say, I didn’t see her again that night. I was sad about that, but I later realized it was actually a good thing. That she disappeared, I mean.
First of all, I didn’t know if Dad and Mom would be ok with having another dog (we already have an inside Teddy Bear type, Chloe and 2 LGD’s, Jacob and Esau). Second, I had no idea how she would be around our livestock on our farm. And third, what if she had some disease that could transmit to those same animals on our farm? So that’s the story of Sweet Girl.
God Had Something Else in Mind
But it wasn’t the end of what God wanted to teach me from the few hours she was around.
The first thing He brought to mind was relating to my concern for Sweet Girl. She had done absolutely nothing to help me to love her, I just DID.
As I was standing out in right field, scanning the area where I had last seen her (and yes, I know I should have been paying more attention to the game), wondering where she was and if I’d see her again, I heard God whisper to my heart.
He told me, not in words but in a sense, “You want her to come back and you’re wondering where she is, but I ALWAYS know where you are, whether you’re running or wandering away from me. And My love is SO MUCH more than mere wondering concern. If this is how you feel about a stray dog, how much more do I love you and desire you to come to me?”
That thought of God caring so much, beyond any emotion possible for humans to experience, for ME, with all my mess-ups, problems, and bad habits, just amazed me and filled my heart with thanksgiving.
It also gave me a new perspective and a heart for all the people around me that evening. For a few hours, I just basked in the love and grace God had offered to me. And it overflowed into my view of my friends.
I was reminded of that familiar verse in Psalm 23.
My table thou hast furnished in the presence of my foes;
Psalm 23:5 (Psalms of david in metre 1650)
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.
One last thing that God taught me through the experience with Sweet Girl was this: God sees and knows where we are at all times. He knows just what it is we need, in whatever it is we are facing, right now. He knows us better than we know ourselves!
After all, He made us. And not just the basic blueprint to humanities make-up, but He individually chose our characteristics and personality.
For thou possessed hast my reins, and thou hast cover'd me,
When I within my mother's womb inclosed was by thee.
Thee will I praise; for fearfully and strangely made I am;
Thy works are marv'llous, and right well my soul doth know the same.
My substance was not hid from thee,
when as in secret I Was made; and in earth's lowest parts was wrought most curiously.
Thine eyes my substance did behold, yet being unperfect;
And in the volume of thy book my members all were writ;
Which after in continuance were fashion'd ev'ry one,
When as they yet all shapeless were, and of them there was none.
How precious also are thy thoughts, O gracious God, to me!
And in their sum how passing great and numberless they be!
If I should count them, than the sand they more in number be:
What time soever I awake, I ever am with thee.”
Psalms 139:13-18 (Psalms of David in Metre 1650)
Emphasis is mine.
Intellectually, in my head, I knew all this to be true, but God very often uses incidents such as this one with Sweet Girl, to dig it deep into my heart.
What I Want to Leave You With
- God sees you, wherever you are, in whatever circumstances you find yourself, and He isn’t going to just leave you.
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” John 1:48-50 NET
- God knows you; He is your Creator AND He loves you BECAUSE of the things that make you, you!
Now, this is what the Lord says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer. I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price, Ethiopia and Seba in place of you.”
Isaiah 43:1-3 NET
- He cares for you DEEPLY and wants you to know Him in that way too. That’s why He sent Jesus.
For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 NET
I pray that wherever you go from here, whether difficult living circumstances, or a trying spiritual battle, or whatever you are facing, that you would look up and see Christ as your hope, that you would view the Father who SEES YOU and KNOWS YOU and LOVES YOU with an undying fervor. I pray that God would grant you strength and grace to walk courageously in His Truth and Ways,
💗-Liz-💗
moment-by-moment, seeking His Will and Face.
And I pray that you would be reminded of and encouraged in His Goodness and Mercy.
