beagle named Anne. She is still timid. I don’t know why. Sound is her greatest enemy. If it is loud she will shake and cower in fear. If the TV is loud with shouting or gun fire she is gone like a shot back to Lizzy’s bed. That is where she sleeps at night and most days too if we let her.
In the mornings it is my custom to read and pray in a particular spot in the house. I have a platform rocker with matching foot stool (a garage sale find), lamp table, Bibles and books all in one location in the house. When I pray I rest my knees on the floor and my torso on the rocking foot stool. It’s comfortable but not too comfortable (no sleeping). Well, the last several mornings as I have prayed Miss Anna has come and stood by me. Not next to me or bothering me just in the area. In fact, Thursday she laid down on the floor next to the stool. Wednesday she was standing there and I thought of how I just wanted to love on her so she would feel comfortable, loved and happy. Then I recognized that is what God wants for us.
In a book titled Gentle Thunder Max Lucado writes,
“For all its peculiarities and unevenness, the Bible has a simple story. God made man. Man rejected God. God won’t give up until he wins him back.”
That’s it! Now I didn’t make the dog but she does not trust us yet and I have not given up. We have tried treats, hugs, praise but we are not there yet. As she stood close but out of reach I thought how God loves us so much that he has taken every step needed to win us back save one. He is so close but out of reach because we choose not to reach out. He lets us choose. He wants us to choose him and his love. Not have it forced upon us (He could do that you know). I want Anne to choose us but all I can do is provide for her, love her letting her come to us. That’s exactly how God deals and treats us. He waits for us to choose; a choice to come back after running away, a choice for us to come to him for the first time; a choice to admit our wrong and be forgiven for the “umteeth” time.
We must choose.
Free will.
How it must hurt His heart waiting for us to choose!
God will wait!
I guess our new addition is an allegory for God’s love for us and our fear of the unknown love he wants to flood over our souls.
It does seem odd to be afraid of Love. But, we are odd people whom God lavishly loves.
We haven’t given up. She warmed up some last night and this morning (Friday). Love is always the ace-in-the-hole.
In HIS Service and Yours,
P.S. Has God surprised you recently? He has me! More about that next week!
No comments:
Post a Comment