When I Rise

WORK AT BEING A 3-LEGGED DOG

Animals are such amazing creatures. I know God gave us dominion over them but watching them can provide some powerful lessons for us to employ in our own lives. The birds who sing after the storms and when the world is frozen over, squirrels who busy themselves to provide for winter season, how a wasp can build a house without ever having had a class in construction. Dogs, however, are such special creatures because they develop close bonds with us and are willing in some cases to risk their lives to save us. Dogs are on the news a lot for these reasons. Over the years I have seen several dogs who have lost a limb. After the recovery and healing process they tend to adapt rather quickly to having only 3 legs. Their gait may look a little odd but they learn to balance themselves and get on with life. I have never seen a 3-legged dog sit in the corner for someone to wait on them, or pointing out to people their loss. They don’t seek sympathy or have pity parties. Rather, they adapt and go on. They go on to love people, get excited over the treats of the day, play and exercise, and make their way to the food bowl.

Paul said to the Philippians he had learned to be content in every circumstance. He pointed out that he had been on the receiving end of good things and bad things, but had learned not to allow them to affect his life. He didn’t mean he just allowed things to happen to him or that he didn’t do his part to change them. Rather, he was expressing his constant faith in God and God’s love for him. Knowing you are loved by the King can bring a change in your heart that allows you to be content in your circumstances and still have faith for them to change. Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego were good examples of this kind of faith. They told the king their God was well able to save them, but even if He did not, they would still worship Him and never change their loyalty.

Living your life like a 3-legged dog means you look beyond your circumstances. God is always gracious and loving enough to provide beauty and wonder to every day. Whether we see it or not is truly a learned behavior. I will adjust my crooked halo and walk with my spiritual limp right into whatever blessings God has for me today. Will you?