Lessons From the Doghouse

Three years ago an event took place in our home that I had vowed would never happen in the Shaffer home!  It did happen and we are forever changed because of it!   That November, we welcomed a tiny, furry, black and white Bichon frise / Chihuahua puppy mix into a home that had never known a dog's presence before.

If it had not been for Phyllis and Kelly at the time, I would have given up on this adventure. I'm good at potty training toddlers… but never a puppy!  This experience brought me to a whole new level of "enduring hardness".  My husband and I allowed this labor of love, for the joy and fulfillment of our dear daughter, who we felt needed this new friend at that time. How were we to know that we all shared the same need!

The frustrations of that training time are all in the past, and we now live together happily, with the most adorable, precious, loveable, gratifying little creation of God, that we named Sebastian!  We are truly in puppy love! The timing of Sebastian's arrival was the Lord's doing.  That four legged little bundle of preciousness met a need in the three Shaffers, that we did not even know existed.  God does see the sparrow when he falls and He saw our need too.

Since Sebastian's arrival in our home, he has endeared himself to us in countless ways.  We have all learned some poignant life lessons from this little, eight pound dog!  Christians everywhere would do well to learn the lessons from the doghouse.   I'd like to share just a few…

One of the first things we noticed about "man's best friend" was his unconditional love toward us.  It doesn't matter what our mood is for he is always accepting of us.  When we give him a bath, wash his paws or scratch behind his ears…he is quick to give us a loving lick as if to say, I love you, family.  Our "grand doggy" just loves us…because he loves us.  No strings attached and no questioning of our motives. Why can't Christians, in a local church body do the same for one another?  It often seems as if motives are questioned at every turn and we cannot seem to trust one another as brethren and sisters in the Lord.  There is something to be learned from a dog's behavior!

Our Sebastian is quite content to be with us.  In fact, he is so smitten with our daughter that he goes into mourning when she leaves for any extended length of time.  The poor thing doesn't eat, or play until his girl returns.  When she does get home…..he cannot contain his joy!  Up and down the stairs he runs just waiting for the chance to leap into her arms for his favorite snuggle.   He gets so worked up in his excitement that he almost makes himself sick!

In our local body of Christ…do we feel anything like this toward our brothers and sisters?  Do we feel sorrow or sadness when one member of the body is gone from us?  Do we think about them?  Pray for them?   Do we check up on them because we missed them?  It shouldn't be something that only the Pastor thinks about doing.  We are to have care and concern, one for another. 

One of the most endearing times with our dog, is when we have just dealt with difficult situations and the burdens are weighing heavy on us.  What a comfort that little hair ball can be!  He will climb into our lap, lie down and let out an audible, deep sigh, as if to say, "You're home, I love you and I'm content!"  He will quietly snuggle in our lap and lay there as long as we sit still and let him.  He comforts us quietly just by being there.   How often do we do that for our brethren when they have had a hard time in life?  Are we a comfort?  Are we even there for them by giving a hug, a note or a kind word?  Do we even notice that others are hurting or going through a struggle?  Sebastian seems to notice these hard times…and he is only a dog!

I Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; …."

The only time our dog barks is when someone comes to the door that he is unsure of.  He is a small dog and hardly capable of providing any real protection for us….but don't tell him that!  He barks as ferociously as any BIG dog because he wants to protect his people!  Do we stick up for our brethren when someone else says an unkind word about them?  Do we protect their character in any way?  We ought to.  If a brother or sister is trying to serve and honor the Lord with his or her life…don't let a carnally minded critic, criticize and belittle.  Stick up for your Christian brother or sister.  Warn the slandering person that you will not let them tear down your Christian brother or sister.

How I thank God for putting Sebastian in our home!  What a blessing and balm he has been.  We've learned many lessons since he came to live with us.  If you ever visit our home and find that he goes ballistic when you come to our door…never fear…for he is teaching us another lesson from "his dog house".