He disappeared into the night—the dog
that is. As soon as I had spoken the magic word, outside, his seven year-old body bounced about like a cute, albeit,
foolish puppy. After my opening the door, he blitzed out like a quarter back in
the 4th quarter, with 5 seconds and the ball in hand. (There are four quarters in a football game,
right?) I kid!
Fifteen minutes later, he arrives
home and in seconds my nose realizes that he happily spent his moments of liberty
rolling in death--probably some sort of icky road kill the vultures wouldn’t even
touch. I immediately had a new insight into Martha’s dramatic and certain
quote, “He stinketh!”
The worst part? He’s done this three
times in the last two months.
Solomon must have watched a dog a
time or two. Proverbs 26:11 reads, “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool
returneth to his folly.” While walking my shamefaced, smelly dog to the
bathtub, while angrily yelling at him, this verse popped into my head. I
finally understood it. Why do dogs
have to re-eat their vomit? Why, when given the freedom to be outside, do they
run to the grossest, deadest thing available? Then again, why do I do what I do?
Why do I run back to my old habits,
the sin, and the shame? Why, when Christ gives me liberty and freedom, do I
choose bondage and death? I suppose Solomon also watched a fool a time or two
as well.
I praise God for accepting me just
as I was, dirty and stinking with sin. I praise Him for still accepting me just
as I am, a child of the King, who sometimes returns home a prodigal son. I praise Him for looking at the cross with joy
(Hebrews 12:2), even though he knew I wouldn’t deserve His forgiveness even after I had gotten saved. I thank
Him for faithfully and justly forgiving me and for giving giving me the keys to living
victoriously in Him.
Just so you know, my daddy
graciously came and washed the dog for me. What an amazing dad I have! Oh, you should also know that the dog and I are friends again. I just can't deny his big, brown eyes! :)
Frannie
“fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he
endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.”
What a great (although smelly) illustration your dog provided for you, Frannie! I know I'm a lot like that dog - running back to the old, dead, decaying, revolting sins that I should have turned from long ago. It's unimaginable that He takes me back sometimes, the way I must "smell" spiritually. It's wonderful that He loves us even more than you love your dog!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI will definitely pray for your Bible study! I know that you will be a wonderful hostess and everything will go wonderfully. I will pray that you won't be nervous, that your home will provide a peaceful environment for your study, and that the Lord would richly bless your time and dwell with y'all in a special way. Please do tell us how it goes! :-)
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Love,
Vicki
Oh Frannie! This was so good. Thank you so much for sharing it. I really needed to hear that today. What a wonderful reminder, and an easy way to remember it! (living on a ranch with dogs is bound to give them an ample amount of opportunities to go and roll around in something stinky!).
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, my dear sister!