Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
11/18/2021
Why do dogs live less than people?
“Being a vet, I was called to examine a 13-year-old Irish dog named Belker.
The dog’s family, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little 6-year-old Shane were close to Belker and expected a miracle.
I tested the dog and found out he was dying of cancer. I told the family I couldn’t do anything for him and offered to do the euthanasia procedure at home.
The next day, I felt the familiar feeling in my throat when Belker was surrounded by family. Shane seemed so quiet, petting the dog for the last time and I was wondering if he would understand what was going on. In a few minutes, the animal fell peacefully sleeping to never wake up.
The child seemed to accept Belker’s transition without difficulty. We sat for a moment wondering why the unfortunate fact that dog life is shorter than human beings.
Shane, who had been listening closely, said, “I know why.” What he said next surprised me: I had never heard a more heartwarming explanation than this. This moment changed my way of seeing life.
He said: “People come into the world to learn to live a good life, like loving others all the time and being a good person, eh? well, as dogs are already born knowing how to do all this, they don’t have to stay as long as we do.”
The moral of the story is: If a dog was his teacher, you’d learn things like:
🐾 When your loved ones come home, always run to say hello.
🐾 Never pass up an opportunity to go for a walk.
🐾 Allow yourself the experience of fresh air and wind.
🐾 Runs, jumps and plays daily.
🐾 Upgrade your attention and let people touch you.
🐾 Avoid ” biting” when just a “growl” would suffice.
🐾 On warm days, lay on the grass.
🐾 When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
🐾 And never forget: “When someone has a bad day, stay silent, sit close and gently make them feel like you’re there…”
This is the secret of happiness that, even if we don’t realize, dogs teach us daily. 🐶❤️”
~ Written by Mark Ferrell
My wife Dyan sent me this to try and explain why HER 2 yr old Sheep A doodle wages his butte all the time and whimpers every time he sees me. (Trust me, there is a much deeper message here). How do we consistently do these things that dogs seem to do instinctively? We’ve all heard a version of this story many times but what about us? Have we become so sophisticated that we are too successful, too intelligent, and so driven by the call of success and 401k’s to be bothered with the things of a dog?
But seriously coming off our high horses, how can one do those types of things without God? We have certainly failed miserably trying to be all of that by ourselves using our own wills! Thanksgiving is around the corner and people are starting to think about what they are thankful for. Who they are thankful for and what part God has had in these priceless blessings.
Matt 10:39 What is the meaning of whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it?
On the other hand, “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Jesus does not mean to lose one’s life by dying, but to give it to Him. He says to “deny yourself, you selfish ambitions that don’t include him, or the idols that we have nourished and protected within that scheme of things, so we can take up our cross, and follow Christ.” Jesus invites us to give our life to him, and He will preserve it. He will give us hope and joy you cannot have without him.
John 17:3 “the meaning of life is to know Jesus Christ. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
I read online that “True faith knows that if Jesus is worth anything, he is worth everything. There is no point in giving Jesus 50, 60, 70, 80, or even 99% of our lives. He will have it all, or he will have none. We cannot mostly die, just as we cannot mostly be saved. Christ and his kingdom are the treasure in the field that is worth trading one’s entire life for. (Mt 13:44-46).
What is that treasure worth to you? Is it worth walking by faith and being empowered by the Grace of God to do what you could never do on your own? Is it worth stopping along the way to bathe in the sun and do all those things that the faithful dog does?
If so you will need to change your focus and your filter
and there is no better time to do that than now.
** Graves Into Gardens (Lyrics) – Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake
————————————————————
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTvv-9zosPs
