THE UNTHINKABLE
He was unusually active that night. He was skipping, running, and even sliding around on the floor like a complete goofball. I should have known something was up, he was acting like he was on drugs or drunk, certainly not acting in his normal mode of character.
He seemed so happy and appeared to be having so much fun, I must have turned a blind eye, or blind brain… He wanted to sit close to me at dinner, which he doesn’t do much anymore. I even served him myself, his favorite food to boot.
I actually enjoyed the closeness and his desire to be close to me. It’s no surprise to anyone in the family that he and I have had our difficulties; his teenage years were an absolute nightmare. He has grown up and has become more settled, a little more comfortable in his own skin you might say.
After a nice evening of enjoying everyone’s company, he lay down in the family room and rested as my wife and I talked. I could see he was dozing on and off, opening his eyes every so often. It seemed, in comfort though, not in aggravation.
I got up to get something. On my way back to my chair, as I was passing by where he was resting, I reached out and patted him on the back. My intention was to show a man to man type of affection, after all, we had a nice evening and I felt close to him.
I don’t know what it was, but he snapped! I mean a full blown emotional into physical snapping! The little jerk did it! After all I’d done and sacrificed for him he did it… The unthinkable…
He bit the hand that feeds him! It wasn’t a full blown bite, but it was delivered with growls and all. I grabbed our dog Larry by the back of his collar and led him out the back door…
My pal went Cujo on me! We’ve been through a lot, but he crossed the barrier of what a man’s best friend should. He bit the proverbial hand… I was stunned, I’d even sneaked him some special jerky treats behind Lola’s back that night. (Our other dog). I’d rubbed his head and scratched his belly and this is what I got in return?
I even talked to him all night long, “What is your major malfunction Private Lar”?!!! He loves that one even more than, “Where’s your ball”? I didn’t let Cujo back into the house the rest of the night. Most of the time I’m a little smarter than Larry, not all of the time, but most of the time.
I never raised a hand to my dad as a kid. I’ve also tried to never raise a fist physically or mentally toward my Father in heaven. I’m not saying I’ve been completely obedient, that would be an understatement, but I’ve tried to stay on the side of respect or sanity.
I marvel in disbelief and wonder when I hear people raise up in spirit against God Almighty.
I wonder how I’d feel if I could speak life into existence, then sustain the atmosphere that provides sustenance to something about the size of a small ant then have that ant that I created, loved, and sustained cuss me or bite me?
I’m not God, I can’t do any of those things, I don’t even know my heart compared to the One who created it.
Of all the dumb, reckless, fearless, brave, and courageous things I’ve ever done, I’ve never had the nerve, guts, or heart to question the God that works all things together for His good will. My insanity goes only so far…
I know other Christians who have the relationship with God to be able to test Him in these matters. It might be different for all of us.
I can’t say for sure what’s always the best thing for my dog Larry, only God knows. Of course, He is perfect.
Not being perfect and all, it’s occurred to me, maybe I shouldn’t call my dog Larry, “Private.”
Or ask him what his major malfunction is?
Audra Krell
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
I’m so relieved to learn that your insanity only goes so far…..LOL. But seriously, it’s good for all of us to know our limits. I don’t understand when people rise up in spirit and rail against God either.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 7:21 pm
I hear you, I know really strong Christians who do that and do OK, I mean they don’t get struck by lightning or anything… OK, I might have stepped across that line of insanity a few times, but that would be a completely different topic. Thanks Audra.
Hazel
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 6:03 pm
One of our dogs gives me a little love bite at times, but he is wide awake. He never breaks the skin. I wonder if your dog Larry was dreaming as he slept and when you patted him, he reacted in fear as to what he thought was happening to him. Often people react to God in Fear, not the good kind of awe, but blaming God and turning on the very one who was indeed supplying their every need. You have given an excellent analogy of ants and God. It does no good to question God, so it is best to accept the good with the bad and keep the faith. I hope you eventually forgave Larry and let him back in the house!! 🙂
Floyd
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 7:25 pm
Thanks Hazel, I did let Larry back in the house the next day. Everything is back to normal. That is great advice, “Accept the good with the bad and keep the faith.” Well said.
peggy
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 6:19 pm
I guess animals aren’t much different than us in this respect, the only difference is that they can’t justify their disobedience like we can. After all isn’t disobedience and sin shaking our fist in God’s face??
Floyd
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 7:43 pm
Great point Peggy, I guess willful disobedience is very close to the same thing. I suppose at this point it becomes all God’s call, since He’s the only being to be able to know the heart of man…. And dogs… I appreciate the honest feedback and thought provoking comment. Welcome aboard, hope you don’t transfer out anytime soon. Thanks.
Lenna Wyatt
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 8:33 pm
I forget sometimes, but I do my best to try to picture myself standing before the Lord someday. It helps in day to day living. The Word says we don’t have to ask forgiveness for every sin since we’ve already been forgiven – just confess what we did. But in day to day living, I forget sometimes…. Got to stay on top of it so they don’t accumulate.
P. S. I love your O. Henry endings. My favorite way to end a story, too, as you know.
Floyd
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 @ 8:47 pm
I forget too… They accumulate quickly for me… As YOU know! I doI love the way you end a story. Speaking of an ending, my youngest just asked me a few nights ago that we haven’t got the end of the novel you sent to us. Not that we need it, I already know the ending…. (If that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is…)
Lenna Wyatt
Friday, September 23, 2011 @ 9:37 pm
I got a new printer so I hope to have it all printed by the time I see you again. Didn’t I tell you? The candlestick did it when Mr. Green was doing the jitterbug in the kitchen. Or was it the wrench that fell out of Colonel Mustard’s pipe in the study…. ?
Floyd
Saturday, September 24, 2011 @ 9:57 am
“The jitterbug in the kitchen.” Leave it to you to come up with something like that…. Too funny. We’ll be looking forward to it.
April
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 6:01 am
We had a dog who bit Stephen and we had to put her down. She decided that she didn’t want him to stop petting her, but instead of rolling over or any other number of ways to get his attention, she laid into his feet and wouldn’t let go till I ran in screaming. He still has scars on his feet and his big toe still bears the bruise that is growing out from the bite 3 months ago. Man, I hope I have never done the equivalent to God….
Floyd
Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 7:40 am
Wow. That’s serious… That would really be a site. Although couldn’t the analogy be used of the lost who choose to try to control their own lives, destiny, and God? I don’t know. When you put it like that, it becomes even more serious. Really good perspective, Thanks April. I hope Stephen’s OK.
Nancy Kehr
Monday, September 26, 2011 @ 2:14 pm
Hey Floyd…… I love the lessons-of-life that God so freely places in our paths. They are useful for correction in righteousness once we see the Truth that is paired with them.
(BTW…You’ll have to ask Hazel Moon about her lesson after she gave the hunting dogs a bath, but they still smelled awful….)
Anyway, I have really learned to “hold a knife my my throat”, so to speak, with regard to my reactions to….. just about everything! LOL!. Otherwise, fist-shaking might get out of hand.
God has given us His Word, His Name, and His Blood. The weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal either. I guess He expects that we should be able to hold ourselves in check.
Of course as the Apostle Paul let us know… flesh has to die – no two ways about it. It is really up to us so we don’t “bite the hand that feeds us”. When we do, His Mercy is greater, but we often it’s us that removes our own selves out from under The Blessing
You know, some people may seem like they “get away” with blaming God or acting fleshly, but a seed sown is a seed sown. The bible is clear about this. We do reap what we sow. I’ll steer clear of that, thanks! I don’t like it when God lets me know that I am going counter to Him and asks me “what is your problem?”
(Sigh – smile) N
Floyd
Monday, September 26, 2011 @ 5:23 pm
I will ask your mom about those hunting dogs! I agree with you too on the “reaping what we’ve sown” analogy as well. The flesh is pretty powerful… Like Peggy pointed out, I guess all willful disobedience could be seen as shaking a fist or thumb at God. I really gotta watch myself! Thanks Nancy. Your perspective always seems to cut right to the heart of the matter.