Lessons from my dog

"because He first loved us"
1 John 4:19


Yes, another teaching from the Dog of Very Little Brain.  But this time, it's one of her strong points that I'm appreciating.  It's her absolute devotion for the members of her family, and for one in particular.  The one she sees as her Master.  Her Alpha Dog - my husband.

She loves all of us.  She will sit with us, sleep on our beds (if we allow her) and she greets each of us individually when we come home.  She will run to one of us, then run to each other person, but then back again to.... HIM.

I'm really not sure why he is the one she loves the most.  He's not the one that feeds her most of the time.  He does play ball with her the most, but the kids play with her, too.   And, he gives her more treats than the rest of us do.  He rewards her for going outside to do her business.  I maintain that we stopped giving our kids incentive once they were potty-trained; why do we still do it for the dog?   So that could be why she loves him the most.  And he does take her running with him.  The kids take her for walks occasionally, but not as often as he does.   Or maybe it's just that she sees him as her Protector.  Taller, stronger, deeper voice.... who knows what a dog is looking for in a Provider.

So although I can't tell you why, it's obvious that her love for him is strong.  It is loyalty.  It is adoration.  He spends a lot of time at his desk, but when he moves to the chair in the family room, she is up on his lap in a flash.  Sometimes even before he is fully sitting.  She sits on his lap, pressing her body against his chest; leaning into him, with her head tucked under his chin.    And whatever room he is in, she is nearby.  Generally within ten feet or so.  (Unless, of course, she has gone to a bedroom to look out the window and bark at harmless passers-by...)  And if he gets up, she jumps to her feet, ready to assist him if he should happen to need someone to, say, follow him....  If he goes outside, she either sits at the nearest door, alert and waiting; or she runs anxiously from one door to another.  And when he went out of town recently, she just went from bedroom to office to family room with a puzzled look on her face a lot of the time.

But really, I don't think it's important why she is devoted to him.  He protects her; he provides for her; he rules over her; he loves her.  And that's all she needs to know.

And that's all we need to know, too.  We have a heavenly Father who is deserving of our devotion.

He is our Protector.  "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!'" ~ Deuteronomy 33:27

He is our Provider.  "He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever - holy and awesome is His name." ~ Psalm 111:9

He rules over the whole earth.   "He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity." ~ Psalm 9:8

He loves us.  "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!" ~ 1 John 3:1

Are you devoted to Him?  Do you see Him as your Protector and your Provider? Do you sit at His feet, adoring Him and listening to Him?

Lesson from my dog:  Love Him ~ because He loved me first.  Amen.