(by Cyndi Carter)
Max and I walk almost 3½ miles six mornings a week. Best to get out before the worst heat of the day. One morning, it occurred to me just how much I at least try to do to make our walks safe and enjoyable for him. He is a very smart little (pardon me, big) guy, but there are things he doesn’t know about and he needs his human pack leaders to look out for him.
For starters, we walk with a leash, and I try to keep him on my left side to keep him out of the car traffic. I selected a walking route which has lots of sidewalks and shady areas. I listen and look out for approaching cars as well as other dogs which might decide to become territorial (at 9 ½ pounds, Max would just make an hors d'oeuvre). I try to anticipate possible situations that might cause problems, such as a bicyclist coming toward us from around a blind curve. I keep him from trying to sample various wildlife lying in their final sleep by the side of the road or drinking skuzzy looking water from the street gutters, so that he won’t pick up any tummy trouble. I pick him up when we go by a yard being mowed and the trimmings are being thrown out into the street toward him. I keep him off the grass where people are having chemical treatments on their lawns.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, I thought about how God looks out for us and protects. First, He gave us His word, the scriptures. Also, He speaks to us directly, giving us a distinct impression of what choice He wants us to make. (And these promptings will not violate His character and views expressed in scripture.) He gives us this guidance and direction not to spoil our fun, or to control us, but to make provision for a full, joyful life. He sees the hidden pitfalls as well as the obvious dangers we might encounter. He sees what walking apart from Him could do to us not just physically, but He sees the possible damage it could do to our hearts and souls. Setting a broken arm or leg may be simple and require few weeks of healing. Healing for hearts and souls can take a lifetime.
We would do well to heed God’s counsel. He gives guidance for our benefit, so that we might have fulfilled lives, healthy relationships with others, and most of all a living relationship with Him. As it says in Hebrews 12:9b “How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”
I believe Max trusts me to take care of him. As we were walking today, I was thinking how I need to continue to trust God every day, and every moment to take care of me. Not just in things I feel “comfortable” trusting Him with, but everything. The old hymn “ ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”came to my mind, and the words to the chorus are found below:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more.
.
Max and I walk almost 3½ miles six mornings a week. Best to get out before the worst heat of the day. One morning, it occurred to me just how much I at least try to do to make our walks safe and enjoyable for him. He is a very smart little (pardon me, big) guy, but there are things he doesn’t know about and he needs his human pack leaders to look out for him. For starters, we walk with a leash, and I try to keep him on my left side to keep him out of the car traffic. I selected a walking route which has lots of sidewalks and shady areas. I listen and look out for approaching cars as well as other dogs which might decide to become territorial (at 9 ½ pounds, Max would just make an hors d'oeuvre). I try to anticipate possible situations that might cause problems, such as a bicyclist coming toward us from around a blind curve. I keep him from trying to sample various wildlife lying in their final sleep by the side of the road or drinking skuzzy looking water from the street gutters, so that he won’t pick up any tummy trouble. I pick him up when we go by a yard being mowed and the trimmings are being thrown out into the street toward him. I keep him off the grass where people are having chemical treatments on their lawns.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, I thought about how God looks out for us and protects. First, He gave us His word, the scriptures. Also, He speaks to us directly, giving us a distinct impression of what choice He wants us to make. (And these promptings will not violate His character and views expressed in scripture.) He gives us this guidance and direction not to spoil our fun, or to control us, but to make provision for a full, joyful life. He sees the hidden pitfalls as well as the obvious dangers we might encounter. He sees what walking apart from Him could do to us not just physically, but He sees the possible damage it could do to our hearts and souls. Setting a broken arm or leg may be simple and require few weeks of healing. Healing for hearts and souls can take a lifetime.
We would do well to heed God’s counsel. He gives guidance for our benefit, so that we might have fulfilled lives, healthy relationships with others, and most of all a living relationship with Him. As it says in Hebrews 12:9b “How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”
I believe Max trusts me to take care of him. As we were walking today, I was thinking how I need to continue to trust God every day, and every moment to take care of me. Not just in things I feel “comfortable” trusting Him with, but everything. The old hymn “ ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”came to my mind, and the words to the chorus are found below:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more.
.
