A Dog’s Life
by Hope For Life Staff on Apr.14, 2008, under Hope
Remington is my Golden Retriever, and we have a good life together. I know it sounds odd to some of you, but we really have a good relationship. I take care of him. I have since he was a puppy. I provide shelter, food, and watch out for him in ways he does not even understand. I really do love him. I look forward to seeing him when I come home and I enjoy being around him.
I also should confess that I like the way he treats me. He adores me. I can see it in his eyes. I can do no wrong. He completely trusts in the fact that I will take care of him and do what is best for him. He is so excited to see me when I get home. His tail wags so hard he shakes all over. Sometimes he even has to bark just to let me know how happy he is.
Remington is completely devoted to me. By extension, he is completely devoted to my wife, to my grandkids, and to anyone I let in the house. He is protective of our house. He even warns the birds and squirrels to stay away. He would do anything I ask him to do. He would die for me.
I know he is not my equal. He cannot even think on my level. I doubt he understands why he has to stay in a backyard. Yet he minds me. He is not a perfect dog. Sometimes he needs a little correction and a little discipline. But he is my dog, and I love him.
It occurs to me that Remington has helped me understand my relationship with God. I am Remington and God is my master. He takes care of me, provides for me, disciplines me for my good, and loves me unconditionally. He is so far superior to me that I do not even recognize it sometimes.
And I can learn from Remington how to treat my Master: with love, adoration, obedience, and trust.
It is a dog’s life, and I would say that Remington and I both have it better than we deserve.
So what lessons about God have you learned from your dog? Or what lesson would you like to learn?
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I agree that a pet dog can teach lessons about God. My miniature pinscher, Ginger has taught me to be more patient when I wait on God to solve a problem in my life. Ginger helps me do this – there are times she pleads with me for some of the fresh pot of rice I just cooked. I want her to understand that she needs to wait for it to cool down or she’ll burn her mouth on the hot rice. She looks at me sadly to think that I won’t share the rice with her, but she has to wait for her own good and does not understand why I’m withholding it. Sometimes when I want God to solve something and get impatient, I need to trust that there is a good reason for waiting longer, like the hot rice, now may not be the time.
Great illustration. Thanks for sharing (and thanks to Ginger too).