Lesson from Peace!
My dog is named Peace. One early morning, I took him for a walk and out of nowhere a large dog came out without his owner running towards us.
When I saw the dog running towards me, I was terrified. I did what I learned in the classes on how to deal with aggressive dogs. I didn't run or yell, I took a deep breath and stayed still and calm. The dog jumped on me. Well, he was like a big bear, very friendly. Mine is the opposite, especially with large dogs. When he was still weeks old, a dog bit him. I had never heard my puppy scream so loud. Ever since that, his instinct is to attack dogs when he first encounters them. He usually calms down and even enjoys the company of the other dog, but it takes several minutes. Usually this happens because the dog is on a leash and he realizes he is not a danger.
I calmed down but my dog didn't. He growled at the dog, bit him, I would yell at my dog to stop but he kept going. At last he began to get tangled up in the other dog with his leash. I ended up letting him go. I thought about it a lot before doing it but he ignored me and I didn't know how long the other dog was going to be patient with him.
As much as I love my puppy, I had to let go of him, he was getting tangled up in the other dog and I couldn't do anything. After releasing it, he quickly untangled himself and kept attacking the dog who could have easily eaten him in one bite! Instead, the dog just looked at him and shook him. I believe if that dog could talk he would have said to mine, what is your problem little boy? Eventually my puppy got tired and I was able to pick him up and help find the owner of the other dog and it was all over.
This experience led me to reflecting on the following.
1- God lets us go when it’s necessary:
Proverbs 1: 20-25,29-33 NIV: "Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall[a] she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke … since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
As much as I yelled at my puppy to stop because I had experience, I know that with dogs you have to be careful if you don't know them because you don't know if they can be aggressive or passive, my dog ignored me. Instead, he chose to follow his instincts which was to fight.
Many times God yells at us because we are inexperienced, "listen to me and stop doing what you are doing", sadly in our foolishness we do not listen. That is where God says; "I am going to let you go, it is the only way you can learn. It is the only way you can see that I know better than you."
Many times in my life I have had to learn with unnecessary pain because I am focused on my fear, (my puppy I think I was afraid this dog will bite him based on past experience). God in many forms is trying to tell me not to fear, instead to listen to him, and yet I do not listen. I can only imagine the pain that God feels when he has to release me to the consequences, product of ignoring him.
Let’s be quick to humble ourselves so we don’t have to learn the hard way.
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6 NIV.
2- We must let go when necessary:
Matthew 18:15-17 NIV: " If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. "
Matthew 7:6 NIV:" “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. "
As much as I did not want to let my dog go it was obvious that he was not going to change. I tried and tried but in the end he was determined to be aggressive with the other dog.
Everyone learns differently. Sometimes in our desire not to want to see someone suffer, we try to control the situation instead of respecting that the person has to learn their own way.
Letting go of people is sometimes difficult. We will watch them suffer. We must remember that as Christians we never let go 100%, because we can keep praying for them.
I have learned that when I take on the “Savior” role and rescue someone from natural consequences, I am guilty of preventing them from growing.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3: 9 NIV
God releases us when we ignore him, not out of fear like I did with my dog Peace, but out of love, a love that wants us to live with it eternally. Let's imitate them and let go of others and be patient with them after we do.
“ … the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:6 NIV.
This image was taken once my puppy has settled down. I took the photo before grabbing the dog leash to send it to my husband. I did not imagine that it would end in a devotional. Thank you for reading!