Jan. 5, 2016
About 4 ½ years ago, we picked out a timid-hearted,
cute-as-could-be schnauzer puppy. We got
her for Kelsey and she has truly been a Godsend for Kelsey and our family. We picked her for Kelsey but, as it turns
out, Sophie picked me. I’ve heard before
how dogs pick their people but I never put much stock in it. Now I now it’s true. Sophie blatantly prefers me over the rest of
the family, even to a point that seems rude (such as Tim will call her up into
the chair with him and she will jump into my lap instead).
So, you would think that Sophie’s preference would be to
sleep with me too. Not so. She sleeps with Kelsey. She started out sleeping in her kennel (aka her
castle, because she is a princess, you know) and she has grown to sleeping on
Kelsey’s bed. She loves it in
there. That is her place, it’s her
routine. In fact, she asks to go to
bed. The kicker comes when Kelsey is
gone for the night. I can’t even coax
her into sleeping with me. She will not
come if I call her. She gets ugly if I
pick her up and take her to my room. She
runs out like she is escaping prison.
Kelsey was gone last night so I tried once again to coax
Sophie into my room. What’s not to like
in the MASTER bedroom? There are two
people instead of just one to love on her, it’s a Temper-pedic mattress. For Pete’s sake, I, the preferred one, am in
there! But, no, she would have none of
it. In fact, Sophie made a beeline
straight to Kelsey’s room. I went in
there curious to see which bed she chose: the kennel or the bed. She chose the kennel.
I say all this because as I stood there looking at her in
her kennel, I wondered just how often I turn down the Master’s deluxe offerings
all the while thinking that I had the best I could get. Or, how often did I lose a dream I had only
to get a better one God had for me? How
often do I stay stuck in my nice, comfortable routine and miss what God is
offering?
Once upon a time, I had a crush on someone. But he didn’t have one on me. But God had a better dream for me: Tim. I once dreamed of being an architect. God had a better calling for me: counseling
and teaching. I had a dream of good
health for both of my kids. That dream
has not been realized the last 5 ½ years.
Other dreams have been fulfilled, though. I dreamed of a strong relationship with
Kelsey. I dreamed of my kids having a
close relationship. I dreamed of strong
faith in my kids.
I have to admit, though, if I am to be completely honest,
that it can seem like a steep cost to realize these dream which then makes me
wonder if God still has something else planned … another greater dream. I have to say I wonder if I am still in the
kennel or am I lying on the Master’s bed.
Is that being ungrateful to wonder, “Is there more?” Or, is it a pragmatic realization that God
can always do better than I can imagine?
This reminds me of Paul, in his letter to the
Ephesians. He spent six verses (Eph.
3:14-19) praying for the Ephesians and for their faith to grow and deepen. Then, in verses 20-21, he goes beyond asking
for his own dreams and says, “Now to Him
who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all
generations forever and ever. Amen.”
My challenge, my pledge, for the New Year, is to pray this
way. I will ask for what is on my heart,
I will be thankful for what I have, I will acknowledge God for who He is, and,
in that, I will ask for His dream to be filled rather than mine.
Wow! What a perspective...thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading more of your blogs in 2016! Love this! Thank you!
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