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We should always have the attitude of praise with thanksgiving and
anticipation for the day ahead. The Lord has set a minimum amount of time
that we will be on the earth and after that will come eternity that will
last forever. The journey that God has set us upon should be enjoyed and
relished and seen with new eyes each day that we awake. We should never go
through life with dread and anxiety worrying over things that will have no
relevance days or weeks from now. We are to have the spirit of gratefulness
and go through life knowing that our heavenly Father is with us and wishes
for our Joy to be full. (Psalm 34:1-4) (James 1:2-8) (1 John 1:1-4)
I hope you are encouraged and challenged by today's message to see life
with refreshed eyes realizing that today is a great day to be enjoyed to
the fullest.
MY DOG TOWHEE
I'm going to make you an offer that I'm hoping you can't refuse. Here's the
deal. I'm going to tell you about my dog.
Please read about her. Then when I see you, you can tell me about your dog
or your fishing trip or your golf game or you can show me your vacation
pictures or photos of your grandkids. I'll listen to you for just as long
as it took you to read this story.
Jerome K. Jerome said, “He is very imprudent, a dog is. He never makes it
his business to inquire whether you are in the right or in the wrong, never
bothers as to whether you are going up or down life's ladder, never asks
whether you are rich or poor, silly or wise, sinner or saint. You are his
pal. That is enough for him.”
I have vowed to be more like my dog. No, not in that way.
Each day when my faithful canine companion goes outside, she is so excited
to see the outdoors. She can't wait to sample the new day. She rejoices in
having another chance to walk the earth. I need to be more like my dog.
My faithful canine companion's name is Towhee. She's a Heinz 57. I knew her
mother, but her father was an anonymous giver. I believe her to be half-pit
bull and half-poodle. She's a vicious gossip. It doesn't bother her not
being a purebred. She's happy that she doesn't have to wear a sweater.
She is the official greeter at the Batt Cave. She's like an over-zealous,
drooling Wal-Mart greeter. She's a good dog, but she does have her bad
habits. I have my bad habits, too.
She eats things she shouldn't. I do, too. She snores. So do I. She's a few
pounds overweight. So am I. She likes tennis balls. I like meatballs. She
likes the sound of the refrigerator door opening. I like the sounds of
Billie Holiday and Louie Armstrong. She licks herself in front of company.
I lack the flexibility. She has conspiracy theories involving squirrels. I
have conspiracy theories involving lutefisk. The dog and I are sensitive,
caring creatures. We both cry when my wife leaves the house with the
credit card.
Towhee is no Rhodes Scholar. She's more of a roads scholar. She loves
going for rides. She goes with me when I haul our recycling. She may just
sit in the car, but to her it's like a trip to Disney World.
She doesn't play tug-of-war. She doesn't like confrontations. If you try to
play keep-away with her, you keep it.
She knows how to sit and how to shake. She turned down a scholarship to a
fine Ivy League obedience school.
She makes up for whatever she lacks with her boundless enthusiasm. She is
always happy to see me when I come home. She jumps and runs in circles.
It's her patented spin-move. It's her dance. Her dance of joy.
I say a little prayer each day, wherein I ask to become the kind of man my
dog thinks I am. Andy Rooney once said that the average dog is a nicer
person than the average person.
Towhee has never told a lie. She doesn't complain, except when I forget to
let her back in the house. She doesn't sulk or bear a grudge. She forgives,
quickly and completely. To err is human. To forgive is canine. She never
worries about who will be winding her wristwatch after she's gone.
If I make a fool out of myself--a specialty of mine--Towhee makes a fool
out of herself. That's a friend. She's a good listener and gives me good
advice. She talks to me, but never when others are around. Towhee expects
good things to happen to her. She is like Seneca, who said, “Nothing is so
wretched or foolish as to anticipate misfortunes. What madness is it to be
expecting evil before it comes.”
Towhee would have liked the old Roman philosopher. Plato said that a dog
has the soul of a philosopher. To Towhee, the whole world is a smell and
each day is a wonder. Each stroll into a different room offers an endless
variety of pleasant surprises.
Towhee is happy being a dog. Her tail-wagging optimism is something to be
emulated. Towhee is just happy to be alive and to have people who love
her. I feel the same way.
By Al Batt
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him
who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”
Joshua 1:8-9 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but
thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded
thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Colossians 3:8-10 “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to
another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have
put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him
that created him.”
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
His Holy Name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: GOOD THINGS TO REMEMBER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem129.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony150.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
