BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU
I don’t trust him… and for good reason. He’s not remotely aware of the old adage by Bill Shakespeare, “No good deed goes unpunished”, which is just a fancier way of saying, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”.There would be little point in trying to explain this concept to him. Even if he did listen he’d never really grasp it. He just wants what he wants – not so different than most of us.
Our relationship is less than the ideal, “Give and take”, type of one. He’s more of a taker. Come to think of it, he gives very little to anybody… and when he takes, he doesn’t mean to, but he doesn’t care who gets hurt.
He’s also a creature of habit, eats the same breakfast every day, and I mean the exact same morning meal three hundred and sixty-five days a year. He never gets fed up with it. He has the same desperate love for it every morning, come rain or shine.
I try to avoid being the one to serve him breakfast. I’m usually out of the house before my wife so she gets the honors, but on occasion, usually weekends, I get stuck with the task.
I take the thin breakfast treat in my hand and before I can turn around he’s on me. He sneezes and pops wheelies, kinda like a wild horse rearing up on his hind legs and jumps around in elation.
Years ago I’d hold the broken off piece of heavenly jerky treat and make him “shake” before I’d give him his breakfast. As carefully as I could, I’d hold the treat within reach and try to avoid his teeth as they snapped in desperation for his first bites of the day.
Turns out, more often than not, I’d be the first bite of his day. My dog Larry tends to bite me… the very hand that feeds him.
After years on top of years of trying to teach Larry how to not snap and break skin while he’s being fed, I’ve given up… I think he’s part snapping turtle.
While I haven’t bitten anyone since childhood now, I’ve taken people for granted. I haven’t broken skin, but I’m certain, like most of us, I’ve hurt others and broken hearts.
Our fallen human condition makes us susceptible to take others for granted, or “Bite the hand that feeds us” as they say. Like my dog Larry, we want what we want and it starts shortly after our first breaths of air.
Not many of us scream, cry, throw fits or pop wheelies like Larry, but that’s not because we aren’t striving to get what we want, we’ve just been trained in the art of civilization by loved ones that understood sacrifice.
Now that the majority of eyes digesting these words have had kids or have lived long enough to grasp our tendencies and nature, we see a little more clearly. As much as we “get” it, I don’t believe the magnitude of our heavenly Father’s love and sacrifice can be grasped on this side of the physical realm. We too tend to bite our Master’s hand…
I don’t yell at Larry anymore when he inadvertently mistakes my fingers for jerky treats from Costco. I just lament, “Awe Lar?”
I’ve given up trying to teach Larry not to bite the hand that feeds him. I now toss treats to him from about a foot away… but he’s an old dog now… and you know what they say about “old dogs and new tricks”…
David Rupert
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 4:28 pm
” I haven’t broken skin, but I’m certain, like most of us, I’ve hurt others and broken hearts.”. The bite of words leaves much deeper scars. And generally the people who love me the most get the worst of my behavior.
Lisa notes
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 5:03 pm
Ouch. Guilty as charged. I’m glad God doesn’t yell at me either, but I do think he may also occasionally lament “Awe Lisa?” Another great post, Floyd. You help me remember I should choose humility far more often.
Chuck Allen
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 5:13 pm
Yep, you pretty much nailed me with this one. I get quickly annoyed by that behavior in animals, but am quick to make excuses for myself. 🙂
Cheryl Smith
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 6:33 pm
Love these thoughts, Floyd! How very true are your words! I wonder how many times our Father has had to look at me, shake His head, and wonder when I would ever learn….lessons He has tried so hard and for so many years and in so many different ways to teach. Somehow, I think I can relate to Larry in more ways than one…especially the “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” part. LOL! Thanks so much for sharing your heart, brother. You are a continual blessing.
June
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
It’s true, Floyd, words hurt, and sadly, as David said, it’s usually those closest to us that get a bite taken out of them. We can’t claim the innocence of Larry. A good word to chew on, my friend.
Lynn Morrissey
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 8:59 pm
Hi Floyd . . . just wrote a long post, and it didn’t take. Who knows? Forgive me, but I’m falling asleep at the keyboard, and need to be briefer now. But it’s a great post. And I thought immediately of God, and how often I have bitten the hand that feeds me. And it’s sad, really, because all He wants is to give me the best in life that will satisfy and sustain. Love the post. Thank you!
Fondly
Lynn
Hazel Moon
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 9:36 pm
I love these dog stories, and this one is no exception. Our dogs don’t bite, but how true it is when we as humans get upset with God for not answering as quickly as we think he should and snap (bite) at the precious hand that feeds us. Our daughter Becky’s dog is big and strong, and one day I was dog sitting, and trying to get him to go outside with a leash against his will. He jerked me and I fell across our sofa and hurt my ribs. I must have cracked a rib, because it hurt for about 3 months. I never told our daughter, because it was on a need to know basis and she didn’t really need to know. I do hope Larry can learn this new program in getting his jerky. Pick up sticks is better than biting.
Hazel Moon
Sunday, March 8, 2015 @ 9:37 pm
Oh yes, thank you for sharing at Tell me a story.
Sharon
Monday, March 9, 2015 @ 8:47 am
Call me an old dog (perhaps not to my face), for I’m not very good at learning new tricks. It’s a wonder to me that God never gives up on me! I know that I’ve been guilty many times of hurting other people, and most of all, I know I’ve grieved His heart. He showed His love by sending His Son to die for me – and yet, how often do I take that great gift of grace for granted? (Too often…)
I wrote today about getting tired of testing. And most often, it is in the middle of *life angst* that I get most testy with God (no pun intended, well, maybe). I need to remember that ALL things are working according to His purposes, and there is “manna” in the difficult things, too. He consistently feeds me, and I must practice my attitude of gratitude with patience and praise. I don’t want to bite Him…but I know that sometimes (alas) I do. Grateful for His longsuffering mercy.
GOD BLESS!
(Marty would understand a bit about this, Lar. He goes NUTS for string cheese…)
saleslady371
Monday, March 9, 2015 @ 9:07 pm
Every night before I fall asleep, I ask the Lord to forgive me if I hurt anybody in the course of the day. Just in case…Then the Holy Spirit gives me the details…it ain’t always purdy. I sleep well; maybe this why. What a forgiver He is!
Thank you for another great post!
Jason Stasyszen
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 @ 12:43 pm
Yep. Been there, done that. At the same time, I’m so thankful for grace and the gift of repentance. I’m being changed and conformed to the image of Jesus. The hope of glory is in me. How humbling is that? Good thoughts, Floyd! Thank you.
Caleb Suko
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 @ 1:02 am
I need that perspective Floyd! It’s too easy to bite that hand and then complain about the food too!
When I was in Brazil I was feeding a friends pet parrot. He bit my thumb just about down to the bone, there was blood!. I instantly yelled back at him, “Ow Freddy, that hurt!”
You know what Freddy (the parrot) did then? He yelled right back at me, “Ow, that hurt!” Made me really made too! Now I’m wondering how many times I’ve done exactly like that parrot did to others!
Nancy Kehr
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 @ 9:31 am
Nice to have had a good pooch friend to grow older with you! I was sitting at my computer yesterday, scanning in receipts on my NEAT scanner and working on taxes, listening to worship music and I became overwhelmed at the goodness and mercy of My God. I had to stop, right then and there, enter into praise and thanksgiving. I am so well aware that my righteousness is but filthy rags and that I cannot be, on my own, what He needs me to be. I am ever thankful for His awesome goodness. Like my husband always says about our animals…..”they want to bee good and please us, but their natures fight against them”. Randy’s Cat is fixed, and should be an “only cat”. However is one of a few rescues that our kids brought home and we “saved”. (Those particular kids have gone on with their own lives, but we still have the rescues…Btu I digress. ) Anyway, Clare-cat can’t help himself. Anytime he sees another cat out the window, he paces back and forth and then tries to go to a particular spot in thehouse where he sprays. He rarely gets the opportunity, because he gets tossed outside into the backyard where he is protected – and so are we. You pick him up and he snuggles in like nothing happened. Yes, nature. Until WE are in heaven, the redemption of our old nature and it’s power over our flesh just won’t be complete. In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit who understands our weakness and still sees fit to give us our “treats” , in spite of our confounding human nature! Good post!
Nancy Kehr
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 @ 9:32 am
Sorry for typos – was in a big hurry 😉
Betty Draper
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
Seem I have been learning that lesson anew this past week.
Sometimes it’s wiser to keep ones hands clear of a snapping dog…
Great post as always brother.
Joanne Norton
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 @ 6:38 pm
As usual, glancing, I saw that a pile of your friends were filled with comments and grinness. You are so appreciated. I smiled. Thank you much for your way you shared your life. Bless you…
Nannette and the Sweetheart
Thursday, March 12, 2015 @ 3:20 pm
Wonderful, Floyd. Love the analogy and Larry. Bless you for your gifted writing that speaks to our hearts.
Micah
Friday, March 13, 2015 @ 7:39 am
I’m going to be careful not to show this post to my wife. I’m still harbouring hopes that one day she might let me get a gun dog. Then again, I suppose the tendencies you mention here will be ones she’s used to. Like you say we all share that imperfect habit of ingratitude, of biting back at the one who has only loved and nurtured us. I’m just thankful for His transforming power, that He doesn’t allow us to remain the same way He finds us. If it wasn’t for His steadfastness and patience, well… but for the grace of God…
Dolly@Soulstops
Friday, March 13, 2015 @ 11:12 am
Floyd,
What a great little analogy between us and Larry…Ouch…so true. I agree with you about how we probably won’t appreciate this side of heaven how much God loves us and how much He has sacrificed for us…Lately, I keep asking God to help return Him to being my first love.