Sweet Jesus, the lover of my soul, sometimes wakes me with quiet
morning whispers. Today it was, “Do you know how I give such perfect gifts?”
The best teachers know how to ask a question that prompts our brain to savor,
think, and then be ready for the answer.
The day after Christmas a friend’s family dog passed away. He had
aged, grown grey and inherited the customary health issues. They had been
loving him, enjoying every minute that remained with him, and made sure to provide
as much comfort as they could for their faithful companion as he came to the
end of his measured time here. Upon hearing the news via text message that he
had passed, James 1:17 instantly came to mind, “Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.” Yes, I was reminded, pets ARE
sweet gifts from the Father of the heavenly lights. The Creator of all things
who gently pokes at our hearts when certain creatures cross our path and says, “that
one is for you.” For the record, I’ve probably been guilty of bringing a few
home that I wasn’t directly prompted were for me, too, and in the process, chosen
some hard lessons.
When verses come to mind like this, I like to look them up and
read them in context to see what more the Lord might want to say to me about
that verse. And did you know the Bible talks about bringing home critters that
weren’t specifically for you? I didn’t either! But look what I found in the
verses just before verse 17 in James 1!
Yup. Once upon a time a woman (who shall remain nameless) thought she could do it all and that God had called her to that. Why would she ever say no? When friends told her about a dog that needed to be rescued and rehomed due to its improper living conditions she thought, “Oh, yeah. I can totally do that.” Enter psycho dog. Lord have mercy (how many times have I begged for that after landing in a mess?! Er… I wonder how many times SHE begged for that… ).
Now, I’m well versed in the “product of an environment” theory and I understand different breeds and their different needs, both for dogs and horses. I also understand that some breed personalities are better suited for certain people. Now, more than EVER I understand this. In fact, going into this, I’d already ascertained that part of this dog’s problem was that it needed more space than could be offered to it in town and that she needed a job, she is a “working dog” breed. I logically analyzed that since I was then living on 3 acres and had some livestock there was potential that I could do this for her until she could be connected with a forever home as I didn’t need any more animals. And to a degree, I did just that, but y’all, this dog was nuts and caused me more heartache than I even care to recall, but for the sake of never making this mistake again (I mean, life is short, pick a different one to try each day) I’ll tell you a little about it.
First of all, I don’t think anyone had ever worked with her or taught her anything, she’d been left to her own devices, and for this intelligent, “working breed,” this is a nightmare. So, I started socializing her, acclimating her to the other animals around our place. Even on a leash she would try to chase the cats, whining, flinching, spinning in circles, nearly taking both of us out in the process. When left outside, she would watch them through the sliding glass doors and do the same behavior, working herself into an absolute tizzy and straight up terrifying the cats.
Around the horses she would try to herd, nipping at their heals, swinging from their tails, and would NOT be called off. Horses have a way of teaching others about their space, and though ours are gentle, and entirely too patient, eventually, they did give her a little pop, but she didn’t even slow down! A couple of days later, she got a much harder kick. She yelped and crawled back over to me where I had an “I told you so” discussion with her, but by that night at feeding time, she was right back to it. So, I had to start keeping her on a long line and training during that time, too. So, instead of just enjoying the peaceful evening routine of feeding and savoring time with the horses, I was harnessed to 40 pounds of spastic energy that was about to make me lose my mind.
And then there were the neighbor dogs. All of this insanity and disruption of peace wasn’t enough. Oh, no. Next, she came into heat. And the neighbor dogs were breaking through our fence to get to her. I CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! Seriously, the LAST thing I needed right now was more psycho dogs!!!
But yes, she is an intelligent, working breed. Interestingly enough, probably a pretty solid description of the woman who tried to rescue that dog, who logically analyzed and came up with the idea all on her own that she should take this on. And here was the perfect opportunity to present for this woman’s consideration how reasoning for herself versus asking for God’s plan could lead to strife instead of peace.
Had God tempted me? No, according to James 1:13-14 I got here all on my own through my misplaced desire to help others, to be needed. And now, the circus my life had turned into was pretty close to creating some verse 15 response; “sinful actions.” What I really wanted at this point was a remote that could turn back time, and save me from the physical, emotional, and financial cost of this choice. But instead, I got a life lesson. While God doesn’t tempt us, he wastes nothing, including the teachable moments from my poor choices.
In contrast to the insanity we inflict upon ourselves, James says, “16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.”
No, Lord, clearly I have demonstrated my lack of understandings,
and that I have no idea how you would know how to give perfect gifts. But as I
smiled this morning and listened for his voice I also thought, “But I’d love to
hear!”
It’s because
I know you, really KNOW you. The best gifts come when an individual can
actually see what is valuable to the other person and correctly identifies what
will bring joy to their heart. I created your heart, Rachael. Your frame was
not hidden from me when it was made in the secret place, when you were woven
together in the depths of the earth. I saw your unformed body and all the days
I had ordained for you were written in my book before even one of them came to
be. You are my prized possession and I
know EXACTLY what will bring you joy. Will you let me bring you perfect gifts?
Will you wait for me to unveil them in my perfect timing?
Fleetwood Mac is right, “You Can Go Your Own Way,” but why would I
want to? I’ve tried it and ended up in places far from good and perfect. So
teach me, Lord, to wait and to see that I am fully satisfied as I remain faithfully
by your side.
Psalm 139
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be
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