I got a new dog this past January.  He is a mixed breed and around two years old the best anyone can tell.  He was abandoned on a country road by his original master and then he ran out and sat in front of a man’s truck who felt sorry for him and took him home to sort of foster him. This man then came to my house to do some remodeling for me and told me he had a little dog that he needed to give away because he had three others and a cat and was not getting enough work to hardly pay his bills.  Me the old softy finally gave in and took him.  I’m a real dog lover but I was hesitant about going into it again after I watched the vet on three separate occasions put to sleep three older dogs, two of them while holding them in my arms. We knew it had to be done as their dignity of life had dwindled and they were just hanging on basically for us in our own selfishness as I had tried to explain to my husband.  Aren’t we like that a lot it seems? My new little dog, Nuggett, is quite a handful. Being an abandoned dog he still has trust issues even though he has no qualms about jumping up in my lap and giving me kisses.

     This morning as I was meditating, as I always do, I had a thought about man’s best friend.  I don’t think it is coincidental that man’s best friend is God spelled backwards (dog).  As I thought about it though it came to me that many people treat man’s best friend the way they do God–positively or negatively.  In the negative way dogs are  verbally abused, ignored , and abandoned.  In the positive way dogs are spoken to in endearing terms, given quality time to, and are part of the family.  Can you see the parallel in the way man treats God?  I know this is something that I will probably meditate upon a lot more because when God brings something to my attention it’s for a reason.  Perhaps I myself  have been giving more time to my new little companion than to the Lord.  With me that is probably true because I do love dogs and it’s easy for me to get out of balance in something like this but I also believe he is a gift from God because I have been dealing with chronic pain for several years and he is a great companion to me since I do not work anymore and he at least forces me to get out and take him for his daily walk no matter the level of  pain.   As I walk him everyday I get to see the seasons change, flowers bloom, leaves fall, snow and rain fall, and yes endure the heat, but I always thank Him for the Creation as I praise Him, the Creator.  I’m sure the Lord will show me many more things as I walk Nuggett daily if I am open to receive them.  We have to listen closely to hear the whispers of God.

“Lord, I thank you for insight and gifts that help me to see more of you.  I ask you Lord to give me balance so that I can crawl into your lap and trust you more to supply my needs.”

And my God shall supply all  your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.               Philippians 4:19