The Lesson of the Big Dog
“All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath as he who hears an oath.” Ecclesiastes 9:2
There is a huge dog lying under the table at my feet. At this moment, his head is by my husband’s feet at the other end of the table, and his tail and hind legs are at my feet. This table seats eight, so you can imagine how big he is.
My husband’s foot is being licked with doggy kisses. I am being kicked by gangly legs.
I had to smile at the metaphor that came to me. Licked, or kicked. It all depends on which end of the dog you’re at.
Life feels like that sometimes, doesn’t it? Good days are doggy kisses. Bad days are kicks and struggles.
Sometimes we feel life never stops kicking us: everyone is against us, and nothing goes our way. And sometimes life kisses us: the world is beautiful, people are wonderful, and even the bad times have a reason that God uses to bring us good.
It didn’t take long for the scene to change under the table. In just a couple of minutes, the dog turned around. Now I was getting the licks and my husband was getting the kicks.
Many lessons can be taken from this simple illustration, but the one I focus on today is that our lives can be transformed in a moment. The situation can change. Others can change. We can change.
And we can be changed.
Father, bring the hope of change to those who have no hope. We will change, and be changed, both on earth and for eternity, for You love us too much to leave us as we are. The only thing that does not change is You. Help us to be patient with Your process. Amen.