LESSONS FROM LARRY second edition
Repost from March 2011
I admire and respect people who demonstrate confidence and are willing to bust their backyard’s and endure and toil to get better at whatever they’re endeavoring to accomplish. I believe that drive or make-up of an individual is what eventually propels them toward success.
It’s rare to find any individuals who excel at anything that like to sit back, be passive, and let others do the work, take the risks, and make the calls for them. To be sure, I’m not referring to insecure micro-managers who aren’t big picture people.
With that said, I’m also convinced that all the desire, passion, and perseverance, can’t always determine an outcome and almost never the first time. All of us have limitations to one degree or another.
Our dog Larry is a pretty good dog, he barks when he hears strange noises, he also barks at strangers in the back yard if they don’t belong there. His desire is to be a good watchdog, the only problem is that he’s smaller than average and isn’t the bravest dog in the world, at least not yet. Lar wants to be and he acts like he is, but he and I both know he’s not.
About four years back I was working in the yard in the middle of summer, I had an old even more beat up than usual sweatshirt on with old worn out tennis shoes. It was hot enough for me to wear my shade hat, you know the ones as big as a patio umbrella without the ball on top.
As I entered the backyard through the side gate I heard Lar bark and it got louder as he was headed towards me, he thought I was an intruder that he’d scare with his vicious barking. Before he got around the side of the house I pulled my sweatshirt collar up over my nose, leaving just my shades exposed under the strange hat Larry wouldn’t be familiar with.
I started to jog almost in a gallop, my left leg leading, swaying my arms like an orangutan and grunting like a gorilla. My brave watchdog? As soon as he spotted me moving toward him he stopped barking, eyes exploding in his little skull, turned and ran with his tail between his legs, howling like he was being stabbed to death in the shower of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Larry’s crying was so loud it brought my wife running out of the closed up house with alarm. Although Lar doesn’t talk, it seemed pretty obvious that he was embarrassed once he figured out he’d been duped. I called him, “It’s okay, Lar, it’s me! – C’mon, you little pansy! – I’m sorry, buddy.” He came with his head hunkered in shame, licking his lips…
I’ve failed at many tasks in my life like my little friend Lar. Larry had passion and desire, he just came up a little short of perseverance that day. We all come up short sometimes. Those failings when used as motivation help us to be a little stronger when the next opportunity arises to test our resolve.
A little over a year ago my oldest brother was visiting with his dog Teddy. Teddy was a Catahoula Heeler, a big, strong, physically intimidating, dog, especially if you’re the size of Larry.
My wife had three roast bones for the dogs, Teddy got the biggest and Larry and Lola got the two smaller ones. Teddy decided he wanted Lar’s bone as well as his own. When Teddy attacked little Lar, he didn’t realize he was trying to bite into a dog who failed enough times to understand what it took to succeed; Fight back…
Larry didn’t win the fight with the big dog, but he didn’t lose his bone or his pride and dignity this time.
We don’t always get to pick the obstacles that fall into our paths in this life, we do get to choose how we respond to them… In the end, that is the real test…
Take lessons from Larry…
Hazel Moon
Thursday, July 24, 2014 @ 6:08 pm
Good for Larry to keep his bone in the face of adversity. Protecting his back yard was one thing, but food was something else. Failure didn’t matter to him, he just kept going even if he got a bit roughed up – he held on to the bone. At times we attempt something that seems impossible, but casting all the what if’s aside, we go forward regardless. So (what if) it doesn’t work out according to plan A? Understand that with faith, we try again and perhaps substitute plan B.
Thanks for this story, I love these dog tails.
Floyd
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 11:00 am
I appreciate your attitude and perspective, Hazel. God has a way of making our plan “B’s” into the best plan “A’s” we could ever imagine. We just have to persevere in faith. Excellent point! Our pet stories I always find amusing too! We’re a couple peas in the same pod, Hazel! Thanks.
Betty Draper
Friday, July 25, 2014 @ 10:04 am
This post is a keeper for me brother. By that I mean I will copy and put in file to be used when I am sharing, speaking, teaching or just running my mouth about the Lord. I know so many people just like Larry, good people, people who love the Lord with all their hearts and struggle daily with not meeting up with their and others expectation. People beat down and afraid to try again, people who see no hope. It takes wisdom to pick our fights in this life. What freedom to understand I don’t have to fight for everything, everything is not worth the fight. Just as you wrote,
We don’t always get to pick the obstacles that fall into our paths in this life, we do get to choose how we respond to them… In the end, that is the real test
Actually I am not keeping this for one more minute, it’s going on my fb wall for all to read. Great post. Great truth, thanks.
Floyd
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 11:03 am
We’ve lived through enough obstacles in our paths to understand the wisdom that comes with them, haven’t we? I’m still learning with each one, guess I always will as long as I’m kicking up dust on this planet in its current form… Thanks for sharing it, hopefully it can be used to lift up a few heavy hearts by our Father. Blessings to you and yours, Betty.
Caleb Suko
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 8:13 am
Floyd I wish I could have seen you running like and orangutan towards your Larry, I might have run the other way if I saw you when I came around the corner!
Nothing teaches like failure! The point is to learn from those failures. Great lesson learned Larry!
Floyd
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 11:05 am
Excellent point, Caleb. It isn’t in the victories that we gain insight and wisdom, it’s in the losses. I think we begin to learn along the way that it’s the race, the gratification of running the good one, regardless of obstacles, that define our lives and bring peace from He who provides those of us that seek Him. Thank you, sir!
June
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 1:08 pm
It’s a good thing Larry isn’t human, or you might not have been so easily forgiven for that stunt!
Not all of us are as smart as Larry. Sometimes, when God is trying to teach us something, we have to go through similar circumstances over and over until we learn the lesson. I definitely want to be more like Larry in that regard! Stay cool, brother, I hear it’s 116 out there – yikes!
Floyd
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 6:01 pm
Larry can be smart sometimes, but the diaper he has to wear inside the house proves he doesn’t learn everything we wish he would! I too want to learn things a little easier and not have to go through all the tough lessons over and over again.
It’s hot, but it’s not near that, my truck says it’s 106, which if it stays dry is bearable, but it is monsoon season and it’s an El Nino year. Thanks, June. And you’re right, we should all as forgiving as our dogs.
Sharon
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 1:17 pm
Oh, how I love dog stories – for I do indeed love dogs! I have a real affinity for Larry, for I understand what it’s like to be small and afraid. But you know what, Larry still has the heart of a hero – and when he gets pushed too far, he’ll push back (I’ve been known to do that, too!)
I have been pondering lately my responses to the troubles in my life. They’re feeling like a big ol’ *Teddy* right now – and definitely not the cuddly bear guy. I know intellectually that I can choose my responses, but all too often, I let fear take over – and I run. Why do I forget the *stuff* I’m made of? And that stuff is actually a Someone. The Holy Spirit is the One who gives all of us “Larrys” in the world the courage to be like the Lion of Judah.
GOD BLESS!
(P.S. The photo of Larry was adorable, by the way…)
Floyd
Saturday, July 26, 2014 @ 6:04 pm
You’re not alone, Sharon. We all go through it, it’s part of this fallen flesh, but take heart, sister! You and I know in our spirit that our Savior has already overcome the world! All of it sits in our Father’s sovereign hand along side us and He either causes or allows all things to work to His perfect will. I’m praying for you in your time of trials.