Puppy Love

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

A puppy and a grumpy senior citizen. 

When Rosie May, our Golden Retriever, arrived at our home she was about six week old. A fur ball of energy and curiosity, she snooped and chewed and slept. She never once found our senior citizen dog, Olive, to be a threat. All she saw through those sweet puppy eyes was a friend. Someone like her with four paws who slept a lot.

Olive vowed to have nothing to do with this happy ball of energy. She avoided her with every ounce of her being, until one day when Rosie May, probably four or five months old, lay on the floor happily chewing on a bone. Olive placed one paw in front of the other until she stood beside her nemesis. Then she placed her little corgi-dachshund body beside Rosie’s ever-growing self.

I watched the interaction and almost cheered out loud, when Rosie scooted the bone to Olive and she accepted not only the bone, but the puppy who had invaded her space. What a precious picture the two painted, and they remained buddies until old age took Olive away.

Rosie May showed compassion, kindness, and patience with Olive. If dogs can embody the characteristics of someone who loves Jesus, shouldn’t I?

The answer is yes. Sometimes it’s hard—when I meet someone I'm not sure of, when I’m not sure of myself, when rumors outweigh truth. Whatever the circumstances, Paul tells me in Colossians to wear compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience like clothing.

Continue to be the one who shows love and kindness, like Rosie.