Loving by Example
My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love.
1 John 3:18 MSG
Our family has 4 important members that are not human; an equal mix of cats and dogs.
Our 10 year old cats are named Mauw and Bug. They show their love by hunting down mice (thank goodness) and bringing them to the front door (gross). They allow a few snuggles, mostly when it’s time to eat.
Our beagle Oscar is cute as can be, but really doesn’t care much for us humans. He has eyes and love only for his big, puppy sister, Olive.
And oh that Olive. She’s our sweet, gentle, 5 year old English Springer Spaniel. (She definitely thinks she’s just one of the Rader daughters.)
Olive loves our family well. A little better than we do ourselves sometimes. I know she’s a dog, but I could still take some lessons from her on how to practice real love, the kind Jesus demonstrates, with Stephen and the girls. I’ll give you 3 examples today:
Olive pays attention, and is quick to act. She spends a lot of time laying on the floor next to her brother’s cage, which just happens to be in eyesight of the dishwasher. I have to be careful not to look her way as I turn when I’m putting dishes away. She takes just a second of passing eye contact as a call for assistance.
Olive is generous. Her new bed has space for two, and Sylvia likes to take full advantage. I don’t know how many times I’ve found the two of them in the dog bed together, Olive’s paw on Sylvia’s back in a hug with her sister.
Olive doesn’t hold a grudge. When I am short on time and feeling impatient, the girls aren’t the only ones who find themselves on the receiving end of a nasty tone. It never keeps Olive away.
I want my girls to see these three same qualities in me that see in Olive. I want them to be able to confidently say, “Mom pays attention and acts quickly, she is generous and she doesn’t hold a grudge.”
I’ll keep working on all three- I’m embarrassed how often the girls ask for something and I just don’t hear it, let alone jump up and help. I could still be more generous with my time (and my desserts). I could more quickly leave the girls mistakes behind me.
I’ve heard it said that “dogs are man’s best friend.” So it doesn’t surprise me that I can find pieces of unconditional love in our relationship with Olive. What other pets are out there preaching the gospel?
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