More than Dog Loyalty

My dog escaped this morning -- EARLY this morning.  I padded out to the kitchen around 6 am today.  As per routine, I opened the back door to let the dog do his morning business in the back yard.  I proceeded to make coffee and unload the dishwasher.  I finally poured my first cup of joe and realized my dog still hadn't returned to be allowed entrance back into the house.  So out I go, in my pj's, in the cold, onto the deck where I discover that one of the gates has been left open and my little adventurer has disappeared. 

For the next 45 minutes to an hour my husband and I search for our dog.  Not easy… it's still dark and our dog is black.  Just as we have decided to go home and hope our precious mutt returns, we see him headed our way.  My emotions were a mixture of relief and pure annoyance.  I get the dog to take him inside and my husband hurries to take his shower, eat quickly and head to work.  I finally sit down to have my quiet time, but my heart isn't really quiet.  I don't feel angry but that annoyance of spending the first hour of my day in the cold looking for my dog is lingering. 

God began to speak some truth to me.  My dog was glad to be home.  He was a bit sorry as one could tell by his tucked in tail and the fact that he kept rolling over to show me his belly.  The reality is though that if he was loosed into the back yard tomorrow and the gate was open, he would most likely go adventuring again.  My dog doesn't get true repentance, and I knew I needed to ask the tough question: do I understand true repentance or do I too often act like my dog? Do I want to be home with Jesus, and dwell where He is AND also go adventuring at times and do whatever I want.   When I ramble back home after adventuring, do I want to get by with a little tuck of my tail and a showing of my belly to prove that I am willing to submit to God's authority?

In my quiet time I read about Enoch. Enoch never died, he just got an awesome trip straight to heaven.  He literally disappeared from earth.  Enoch is decribed as a person who pleased God.  It doesn't say that Enoch did anything wildly important.  Enoch wasn't a CEO, or someone super famous. Enoch didn't invent the latest coolest gadget.  Enoch wasn't everyone's favorite teacher or coach.  Enoch was just a guy who pleased God.  Enoch didn't want to leave the yard to go adventuring; Enoch wanted to be where God was all the time.  Enoch wanted to be with God, hang out with God, talk to God, know God, and do whatever he could to make God happy.  And because of that Enoch is listed among the faithful in Hebrews 11. 

I was struck by the idea that God just wants me to be like Enoch.  He isn't asking me to do things that others will identify as impressively important. He hasn't asked me to sell everything I own and move to a country on the other side of the world.  He's asking me to be focused on Him alone. I haven't been adventuring lately, but God wants more from me than just dog loyalty.  God wants priority commitment.  God wants me to long to please Him more than anything else I do.  God wants me to live like Enoch, all for the glory of His great name.  Now that's loyalty.

Thankful Preparations

I don't normally buy this many groceries.  After all, it is just my husband and myself.  We like to eat, but really?  We are still just two people. My kids are coming home for the holiday, and they are bringing friends. I like that.  I like that my home can be a gathering place.  I like hearing the sounds of laughter and fun floating throughout the house from its various corners. 

While I was shopping and my cart gained that "overflowing" look, I admit to being a bit worried about the cost of all this "joy."  I was adding up my total cost as I went, (yes, I am one of THOSE shoppers:  I don't necessarily have to be so tight with the budget anymore, but years of it being a necessity has given me very distinct grocery shopping habits) and I was still within my budget. And yet I found myself asking questions in my head like: do I NEED another box of crackers?  Will they like this breakfast cereal?  What do my daughter's friends like to snack on?  Is this enough noodles for spaghetti? Why are gluten-free spaghetti noodles so expensive?!  How badly will my husband hurt if I use regular noodles?  Am I over thinking this?  Yes to the good bacon? Cheese sticks? Ice cream?...  I found myself becoming distracted by the process instead of focusing on what God was providing.

I have heard others say, and I have repeated it myself to others that identifying what one has to be thankful for, listing them out, helps you move from worry to peace.  My heart needs that process as I have gone to another grocery store since the pictured purchase, and I'm sure I will return to the grocery store before everyone arrives, and perhaps even while they are here!  Budget-smudget.  I'm making a list:

• There IS padding in my budget in several places.
• I get to enjoy the presence of my children, at home, for more than a night.
• I have the privilege of being a generous hostess.
• I get to make my children some of their favorite foods and enjoy spoiling them.
• I am blessed that I have the space to not only have my children home, but their friends as well.
• NONE of this is a financial burden.
• I still can afford to drink all the good coffee that I want.
• I will be paid in hugs.
• I get to bless people from my church who will join our feast.
• I am reminded how often my mom has done this for my siblings and myself, it fills my heart.
• I get to snack on things that are not normally found in our house anymore.
• There will be pumpkin bread and homemade cookies.
• I don't have to make the pies.
• I can imagine my son's pleasure because there will be gravy.
• I have the ingredients for a double batch of my daughter's favorite jello salad.
• I will get to soak in the all the idiosyncrasies of those I love the most. I can hardly wait.
• I don't regret a dime spent, even if that means no new shoes for awhile; the trade-off is  priceless.

I truly am Blessed and Grateful.  To God be the Glory.