Tag: dogs

Greetings, Visitors and New Beginnings Family! I know it has been a little while since we last sat down together for a cup of coffee. But if you want, pour yourself a cup and then pull up a chair for the latest edition of Coffee with Gary entitled, “Linda-Dogs on the Prowl.”

Married people occasionally use private jargon when talking with their spouse that only the two of them understand. What’s more, if anyone overheard them talking, that person might think they were a little silly. In fact, private jargons are not peculiar to just spouses. They can exist between siblings, parents, and their children, friends, or any two people for that matter.

My wife, Linda, has a general fear of dogs. However, I found that she really fears large and aggressive dogs. Those kinds of dogs are the ones that charge their owner’s fence, barking loudly and baring their teeth as she walks by. Some of our neighbors even own two aggressive dogs that they let out into their yard!

To distinguish the aggressive dogs from the friendly ones, we have named the aggressive dogs “Linda-dogs.” At times we’ll walk by a house with a friendly dog and I’ll comment, “That’s not a Linda-dog.” To this, she answers, “Yep.” Sometimes when Linda and I are watching TV together, I point out the “Linda-dogs” on TV. From the frown on her face I can tell she doesn’t like seeing “Linda-dogs” on TV either!

One day on our daily walk, a sizeable waist-high poodle darted from between two cars towards us. Linda shrieked and turned her back to the dog so as to protect herself. However, I immediately identified the dog as just an overly friendly dog and reassured Linda it only wanted to lick her face. This dog was definitely not a “Linda-dog,” but it certainly did startle us all the same! The dog’s owner explained that she opened the door to let the dog out just as we happened to be walking by. The owner was very apologetic about what happened, and we continued peaceably on our way.

At that very moment, God reminded me of a verse in the Bible. 1 Peter 5:7-9 tells us to cast our anxiety on God and be alert and sober. Why? Our adversary, the devil, prowls like a lion looking for whom he may devour. In light of this truth, we are told to resist the devil and stand firm.

Sometimes, when I am confronted by a threatening dog, I stand firm, show no fear, and look the dog straight in the eye. Quite often, I have found this to work, but at other times the better part of valor is to run as fast as you can!

Now I know there is a big difference between a “Linda-dog” and a dangerous, oversized “kitty” like a lion. But even if the analogy isn’t perfect, God can use ordinary experiences in your life to remind you of truths from His word. Are you looking for God to speak through the routine and everyday events of life?

Your fellow pilgrim in looking for a country of our own (Hebrews 11:13-16),

Gary