Love like a Dog

Have you ever looked at the love and devotion of your dog and wondered if God gave them to us as an example of how we should love Him.  A dog longs for his master's return at the end of a work day.  A dog longs to spend as much time as possible with it's master.  A dog never wants to be far away from it's  master.  I dog passionately defends and protects its master.  A dog lives for it's masters touch and sign of affection.  A dog comes quickly and excitedly at it's master's beckon and call.  A dog truly loves and worships it's master.

I heard a poem once by Taylor Mali called, Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog by Taylor Mali

First of all, it’s a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you’re walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain’t no one going to mess with you.

Love doesn’t like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time?
No! No! Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you’re all wound up and can’t move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

I know it may not be a great correlation but I think it is worth mentioning.  I have learned a lot about love from my dog.  I happen to believe that God is instrumental in teaching me those things through my dog though I have not always enjoyed the lessons.  I love my dog and she loves me and I would like to think that I can better understand how to love and live life in Christ through my dog.  Dog's never seem to run out of love.  Dog's never seem to run out of devotion.  And dog's always want to be near you each day.  We could learn a lot in our relationship with Jesus.  Just Saying.

Blessings,

Greg