Every time I go outside Chloe comes running, tail wagging, waiting for me to scratch her head. If my hands are full, she butts the back of my leg with her nose until I manage to free my arms, bend over and scratch her head. If I am taking a load somewhere, she follows along, and I feel that little round nudge constantly all the way until FINALLY (I am sure she is thinking) she gets
that longed for scratch on the head.
This morning I suddenly wondered if I do that with God. Am I so anxious for His attention that every morning I can hardly wait to talk with Him? Or do I just leave Him in the back of my mind until I can find a spare minute, and if He is lucky, I might actually have a whole minute?
Yes, Chloe is making a little pest of herself to get my attention, but do you know what? It doesn’t bother me a bit. In fact, I find myself hurrying to put down my armload so I can pat her even sooner. It’s endearing to have a little creature want you so much. Some days I go outside just to see her run up to me with that swishing tail, and actually sit down and spend a few minutes with her for no other reason than to be with her. I guess that’s what happens when your children grow up and the dogs are all you have around to dote on.
What was it Jesus said? If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him? Matt 7:11. I don’t for a minute pretend to understand how God feels about things, but Jesus gives us a hint here. If I, an imperfect person who sometimes still allows sin into my life, can love my
children enough to give them good gifts, if I can still care enough about a
small animal to want to satisfy its desire for attention, what will God not do
for me? If that small child’s pestering endears him to me because it makes me know he wants to be with me, certainly if it can happen with an animal’s little nose bumping my leg, won’t my pestering do the same for God?
And to the other side of the question, if I act like God’s attention means little to me, why should He give me any of it when I decide I could use it? My mother always says, “If I say to God, ‘I’m too busy for you right now,’ what’s to keep Him from saying that to me?” I think she has a point there.
And he spoke a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came often to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary. And he would not for awhile: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming. And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And shall not God avenge his elect that cry to him day and night and yet he is longsuffering over them? I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Luke 18:1-8.
Dene Ward
that longed for scratch on the head.
This morning I suddenly wondered if I do that with God. Am I so anxious for His attention that every morning I can hardly wait to talk with Him? Or do I just leave Him in the back of my mind until I can find a spare minute, and if He is lucky, I might actually have a whole minute?
Yes, Chloe is making a little pest of herself to get my attention, but do you know what? It doesn’t bother me a bit. In fact, I find myself hurrying to put down my armload so I can pat her even sooner. It’s endearing to have a little creature want you so much. Some days I go outside just to see her run up to me with that swishing tail, and actually sit down and spend a few minutes with her for no other reason than to be with her. I guess that’s what happens when your children grow up and the dogs are all you have around to dote on.
What was it Jesus said? If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him? Matt 7:11. I don’t for a minute pretend to understand how God feels about things, but Jesus gives us a hint here. If I, an imperfect person who sometimes still allows sin into my life, can love my
children enough to give them good gifts, if I can still care enough about a
small animal to want to satisfy its desire for attention, what will God not do
for me? If that small child’s pestering endears him to me because it makes me know he wants to be with me, certainly if it can happen with an animal’s little nose bumping my leg, won’t my pestering do the same for God?
And to the other side of the question, if I act like God’s attention means little to me, why should He give me any of it when I decide I could use it? My mother always says, “If I say to God, ‘I’m too busy for you right now,’ what’s to keep Him from saying that to me?” I think she has a point there.
And he spoke a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came often to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary. And he would not for awhile: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming. And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And shall not God avenge his elect that cry to him day and night and yet he is longsuffering over them? I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Luke 18:1-8.
Dene Ward
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