Lessons From My Dog…
04/04/2016
Working from home has allowed me to spend my days with Max! Watching how he does life, has some taught me some valuable lessons:
- Focus on key words: Max can’t really understand my sentences, but what he does is focus on key words; sit, stay, ball, outside, no, ok, eat, night-night, etc. These key words trigger emotions for him. We would do well to pay attention to the key words that the enemy throws at us to make us worried, stressed, frustrated, doubting and angry!
- Take a break: When I start to spend too much time working, he starts whining, which means it’s time to get outside and smell the roses, or throw a ball!
- Exercise should be fun: When I say “let’s play!” He runs outside and grabs his ball. His play is his exercise. We would enjoy exercise so much more if we saw it as our play time, to do something fun like swim, hike, bike riding. It doesn’t always have to be about the gym and getting our cardio in!
- Get excited: Certain words excite him like, snack, ball, play, daddy, Megan etc. How often do we spend time thinking about something that makes us excited, joyful and happy!
- Obedience and Disobedience = Consequences: I’ve been teaching him to stay inside when the door is open, unless I give him permission to go out, or to stay in the yard. If he decides to do what he wants and wanders off, he knows the discipline he will endure. When he’s obedient he knows I’m well pleased and he will be rewarded. When we are intentionally and consistently living according to God’s design, we will experience a healthy balanced life. If we live the way we want allowing damaging food, people, substances in our life, we will reap the painful consequences.
- Trust your master: Max fully trusts that I will take care of his needs. He doesn’t worry about whether or not he’ll eat or have water to drink. The reason being, is that he’s experienced my endless love and care of him for years. We can also rest assured that we have a heavenly Father that loves us and can be trusted to provided for us! He always has and always will!
