Check out Peter's Blog Carnival on Obedience.
Families have secrets. Transactions and embarrassments they only whisper to each other, humiliations they shutter at the thought of telling non-family members.
My family definitely has secrets.
If we can believe scripture, and I do, all our secrets, events hidden from peers, will be brought out into the light one day.
Why wait.
Brothers and sisters, today I am shining a light on one of my family’s humiliations. Please do not judge us too harshly.
Our dogs, Max and Nina, the dogs we love and call family, flunked obedience training. They are to our shame. . . doggy school dropouts.
There I said it… The tension is leaving my body as I confess… I feel soooo much better already…
Max and Nina wanted to be obedient, they tried, but the pleasures of the world proved too tempting.
DOS PERROS
In the cool of a subtropical Saturday morning, a salty breeze coming off the ocean, Max Sits. He stays in the ready position for nearly three minutes. “Look at me master!” his eyes say, seeking approval.
Max is the first to see a family riding down the beach on their bicycles. He strains at the temptation, body tense, eyes watering like an addict needing a drink.
“Stay Max, stay boy. You can do it.” But the sirens’ call is too strong. Max springs down the coastline chasing the bicycles, barking, tail waging, tongue hanging out of his mouth like a pork-chop. “Come back Max! Come BACK!” too late…
Nina’s habits are more . . . invasive.
A neighbor walks to the mailbox, or the FedEx driver asks us to sign for a package, perhaps a man bends over in his driveway to pick up his newspaper. – And our sweet Nina, with no malicious intent, trots over to say hello and sniffs aggressively parts of his or her anatomy we normally do not discuss in polite company. The shame.
She knows she is doing wrong, she wants to be obedient. But, she cannot stop herself.
We still love both dogs, despite their disobedience.
MORE SECRETS
I am a doggy school dropout, too.
How many times have I wanted to do the right thing, wanted to be obedient to my Master but failed. …Daily?
With our Father’s guidance, I have improved over the years, but I am a work in progress. Like Max and Nina, I want to obey, but I simply cannot, not to His standards anyway.
And despite my shortcomings, and despite my lack of ability, and despite my open rebellion when I take off running down the beach, chasing empty promises like Max . . . He still loves me dearly. My God still loves me.
Here is another family secret for those who do not already know. – All I can offer God, all He requires, is Faith, faith in His son Jesus Christ. In return He gives me everything.
I am not His pet, I am His child.
My family definitely has secrets.
If we can believe scripture, and I do, all our secrets, events hidden from peers, will be brought out into the light one day.
Why wait.
Brothers and sisters, today I am shining a light on one of my family’s humiliations. Please do not judge us too harshly.
Our dogs, Max and Nina, the dogs we love and call family, flunked obedience training. They are to our shame. . . doggy school dropouts.
There I said it… The tension is leaving my body as I confess… I feel soooo much better already…
Max and Nina wanted to be obedient, they tried, but the pleasures of the world proved too tempting.
DOS PERROS
In the cool of a subtropical Saturday morning, a salty breeze coming off the ocean, Max Sits. He stays in the ready position for nearly three minutes. “Look at me master!” his eyes say, seeking approval.
Max is the first to see a family riding down the beach on their bicycles. He strains at the temptation, body tense, eyes watering like an addict needing a drink.
“Stay Max, stay boy. You can do it.” But the sirens’ call is too strong. Max springs down the coastline chasing the bicycles, barking, tail waging, tongue hanging out of his mouth like a pork-chop. “Come back Max! Come BACK!” too late…
Nina’s habits are more . . . invasive.
A neighbor walks to the mailbox, or the FedEx driver asks us to sign for a package, perhaps a man bends over in his driveway to pick up his newspaper. – And our sweet Nina, with no malicious intent, trots over to say hello and sniffs aggressively parts of his or her anatomy we normally do not discuss in polite company. The shame.
She knows she is doing wrong, she wants to be obedient. But, she cannot stop herself.
We still love both dogs, despite their disobedience.
MORE SECRETS
I am a doggy school dropout, too.
How many times have I wanted to do the right thing, wanted to be obedient to my Master but failed. …Daily?
With our Father’s guidance, I have improved over the years, but I am a work in progress. Like Max and Nina, I want to obey, but I simply cannot, not to His standards anyway.
And despite my shortcomings, and despite my lack of ability, and despite my open rebellion when I take off running down the beach, chasing empty promises like Max . . . He still loves me dearly. My God still loves me.
Here is another family secret for those who do not already know. – All I can offer God, all He requires, is Faith, faith in His son Jesus Christ. In return He gives me everything.
I am not His pet, I am His child.
