Quit Drinking Puddles

“Mr. Simeon, quit drinking the puddles,” I demanded as I dragged the forever-long-eared, paralyzed hound of a character of a rescued dog along in his wheelchair straight to the water bowls so he could imbibe on the real thing. “Why do all you dogs have to keep doing what you know you’re not supposed to do?” I whined, murmured, moaned, and complained as I find myself doing on far too much of a basis. Leave it to the 16 mostly special needs and senior rescued dogs of Walk by Faith Ministry to keep me constantly on my toes. But wait a minute. What words had just flown from my mouth? These words. Why do all you dogs have to keep doing what you know you’re not supposed to do? 

photo courtesy of RelaxNow via pixabay.com

By the time I had hauled Mr. Simeon over to the water bowls where he immediately began his water binge (knowing full well I’m the one who has to change his doggy diapers), it hit me. Oh, how easy it is to groan over Mr. Simeon drinking too much water (again), the latest escapade of a dog eating another dog’s poop (disgusting!), one of the dogs digging up the exact hole I just covered over, or a dog peeing indoors when I just let him back in from his outdoor toilet. Oh, sure, I could spend the rest of my life getting upset with the dogs for continuing to do what they know full well they’re not supposed to do, or I could point the finger in the other direction and look at myself.

How many times have I cried out at the dogs over something only to discover what a perfect opportunity it was – and is – for God to show me something about myself? So much for pointing the finger, eh? While Mr. puddle-drinker enjoyed the heck out of his water at the water bowl station, I had to come to grips for the umpteenth time with the fact that what I go through with the dogs is absolutely NOTHING compared with what God goes through with me.

Mr. Simeon on a sunny day. Got puddles?

At my age, exactly how many times has God looked down from heaven and had the very same thought? Why do you have to keep doing what you know you’re not supposed to do? Ahem. Enough said. Too many times to count. Suffice it to say, if Jesus Christ hadn’t gone to the cross for my sins, there is no possible way God could forgive me. The trouble is not that God hasn’t forgiven me for all the times I’ve gone to Him confessing my latest sin and pleading for mercy once again, but that I’ve been known to do exactly what the dogs do. Okay, so I don’t drink out of puddles. I don’t eat other dog’s poop. I don’t pee on the floor. But I think you get the point. If I’m moaning and groaning over the dogs continuing to do what they full well know they shouldn’t be doing, I can’t even fathom how God feels peering down from heaven as He watches me do a whole heck of a lot more than drink out of puddles. Okay, admittedly, by His grace alone, with plenty of Bible study and time spent with the Lord, I have come an enormously long way in living life the way He desires for me to live. But suffice it to say I still have more than plenty of distance to go.

So much for staying upset for too very long with Mr. puddle-drinker or any of the other dogs. Not only does God calls me to have mercy, but I’m well aware of how much I need it. Puddles and dogs aside, I suppose I needed the reminder that God has every reason in the world to be moaning and groaning and complaining over me. Instead, God, being God, is forever faithful, forgiving and patient as He teaches me to walk in His ways. Puddles and all.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NASB

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 ESV

Please visit Walk by Faith Ministry at https://www.walkbyfaithministry.com.