9.20.2008

my dog peed on me: Ps 95 / Hebrews 3 & 4

So I've been studying Ps 95 and Hebrews 3 & 4 this week, and a little break through of understanding came this morning before I went to work.
See this week my parents were out of town on an Alaskan cruise (jealous!) and while they were gone my dog lilly and I kept each other company. I would do things like speak her name out loud merely for the fact that I knew she probably wanted to wag her tail to the tune of her name being said. Of course in a high pitched voice. Something that I happen to be ammazing at. I'd also let her sleep with me in my bed at night - because it kept me from being nervous about being alone, and it gave her a little company. (Mostly because it kept me from being nervous.) I also might have let her have a few extra table scraps from my elegant frozen pizza or cereal dinners.
Anyway, Lilly isn't accustomed to getting out of bed early and tends to be a little lazy in the mornings. This morning was no different. As I had my keys in my hand, ready to walk out the door, I called her to come so I could let her outside. I called once. She didn't come. I called twice. She came, but highly reluctantly. Then, the sleepy light bulb came on in her brain telling her that I was going to put her outside and she jolted back into my room. Usually when she does this she jumps up on my bed and looks adorable so I scoop her up and forget all about her disobeidance. Today, however, was not the case. She ran under my bed and curled up tight in the middle where there was no way I could get my hand on her. As soon as I would get her within reach she would scoot to the other side and this went on for waaay too long, of course increasing my anger b/c I was going to be late for work! Finally, as if my arm had suddenly grown an inch I grabbed her little tail and pulled her out and just as I had her....
she peed on me.
So in my wrath I threw her outside and did not fill up her doggie bowl with food (though I did get her water) changed my clothes and went to work. Very late by the way.

In the car on my way to work I felt the anger climb off of me a bit and I had enough sense to pray and ask God for help b/c my day wasn't starting so hot. And when I did He said "See...that's what Psalm 95 is all about!" (See scripture quoted in last post - it's Ps 95:verses 8-11 and Hebrews talks about it in chapters 3 & 4) I started to think about my pampering of Lilly all week, sleeping with me every night, extra bits of chicken, pizza, cereal, and english muffin w/ honey, giving her food and water and saying her name out loud just so her tail wags... And how I was only trying to be a good caretaker by putting her outside in the first place - of course I knew she needed to go outside (and even waited til the last minute to do so). She's the dog and I'm the human. I know more than she could even think about knowing.
And then she decides that it's better to do things her way. That she would rather sleep than have a good day outside and have to hold in the pee that would later free flow onto me. She decides that she can hide from me and I won't catch her. And in a way, all of this is because she doesn't trust me (Now I realize it's mostly because she isn't trained right to come when I ask her too...but just follow me okay) and she is in unbelief about who I am as her caregiver. That everything she has is because of me. That I know what is best, right, and good for her little doggie life.

You get the point right? Lesson: Trust in the Lord, for He will surely come. Unbelief is a terrible thing that turns us away from God (Hebrews 3:12) Well, I won't go further.

(side note: It's interesting to actually write this out because it's becoming more real than what it even was in the car this morning.)

5 comments:

arin gilbert said...

Jenn, this is brilliant. I love the revelation that God gave you this morning. Terribly sorry that lilly was a bad girl, but amazed at the result. You have such a great gift of wisdom. thank you for sharing it.

arin gilbert said...

oh, and i love the new picture. where do you find such pretty photography. i love the owl back there, you have great taste. :)

arin gilbert said...

when i say owl, i obviously meant butterfly. oops.

susanna said...

wow, God speaks through dog pee! my favorite line is about how Lilly is in unbelief! It's true though, Lily (Lily of the Valley, that is) is in unbelief. yeah, i want to trust Him too.

Anonymous said...

Love how you heard his voice in this and thank you for sharing it! Definitely would've been different if you weren't late for work and if she didn't pee on you...