There
were a large number of spectators…let's call them fans…at our recent
Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl including several furry ones. I’m not sure
how many people at Harvest have dogs (our family does not, by
conviction), but there were at least half a dozen at the game that
morning. They are fine looking dogs. As I said, we’re not dog people at
all in the Dugard household. We did have a Terrier/Spaniel cross
through my teens and twenties…Scoobie (Doo-gard). He was a good dog. Low
maintenance. Guarded the property and loved his masters. He was around
for 15+ years before we took him for his last trip to the vet.
As
an aside…because I don’t often write about dogs…with all due respect to
each of these fine canines, the German Shepherd is by far the best
looking breed. Total class. Carries himself with confidence. I have
always been an admirer though I’ve never owned one. But if I were to
have a dog…
So
here’s the thing about dogs: (a) they know a thing or two about
loyalty; (b) they want to be in relationship with you; (c) they respond
to the sound of your voice; (d) they want to please you; and (e) they
love going for walks…get the right kind of dog and put a little time
into him/her and he/she will walk right by your side the whole way.
And people can find tremendous encouragement in that, in having their dog come alongside them in these ways.
On Sunday we’ll be in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13.
The message is titled, “I live to encourage others”. The key to
understanding and living this out is in the word "encourage" which in
the original language means "to come alongside". The pressing issue is
simply this, how can we do a better job of living out the love of Christ
by encouraging one another…by coming alongside one another?
So
give your pooch a pat on the head for me (if he’s actually a good dog)
and take a look at that passage before we get together to look at it on
Sunday morning.
See you then.
Todd