Lesson from Lucy.

Dogs…they are like children, only with lots of hair.
But the one beautiful difference is that she’s never upset with me. Never.

I can fuss at her for pooping in the garage or vomiting on the carpet or stealing food out of the trash can…and she is still glad I’m her mom.

I can go 3 years without paying much attention to her (that was back when I had an 18 month-old and a newborn…things are much different now...so calm down, people)…and she still loves me.

I can hear the pitter patter of little feet in the house as she will run from one room to the next…just to be near me. She smiles (as much as dogs do) when I stop in my day and acknowledge her or touch her. She loves my attention.

What if that were how in-tune I was with my Provider and Caretaker? What kind of relationship would I have with him if I constantly sought to be near him? What if I didn’t pout every time he didn’t do things my way…but instead understood that he is Daddy…and knew he always had my best interest at heart?

Thankfully, God IS that faithful to me. Unbelievable. He never leaves me. Even if I "scream" at him in my discussions, or express strong feelings about something in my life, he never turns his back. He IS big enough to handle that, by the way. He is very slow to anger and always listens.

Thanks, Lucy, for helping me to see a miniscule glimpse of God’s abounding love… and reminding me how powerful my relationship with him could be if I just gave like you do.

Since the initial writing of this post, I laughed as I overheard my 4-year-old telling my 3-year-old that "Lucy isn't a dog that protects us....she's only a dog that lays down." How right he is.