Home Boy (click to comment)

So I’ve written another book. But this one is different from the others. Through the years I’ve written about kids and parenting, about golf and guys. I’ve written about integrity and aging parents. About marriage and laughter. I’ve written about everyone I’ve caught hanging around our house, and finally I decided it was time to write about the dog.

The new book is called Tricks My Dog Taught Me About Life, Love, and God. You can learn a kajillion things watching a dog. Disgusting things, but worthwhile things too. When I see my dog chase her tail I learn that some things aren’t worth chasing. When I come through my front door and she pounces on me, I determine to be more interested in others. I’ve learned to wag more and bark less. And I’ve learned to look out the window and bark at the garbage man. An old preacher said that if you want to know God better, get a dog. Here are just two things about God I’ve learned from my dog.

1. Beg. A dog’s nose is up to 10 million times as sensitive as a human’s. Late at night I try to sneak snacks past my dog, bringing cheese and crackers quietly to bed. In seconds she is inches from my face, begging. A dog teaches us that we have not because we ask not. George Muller cared for 10,000 orphans in his lifetime. He said, “The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God’s glory, they should pray until they get it.” In begging, my dog reminds me to go ahead and ask.

2. Long for home. We take our old dog out for a walk and she lags behind, but the moment we turn toward our house something happens. She tugs at the leash, picking up speed. Home is where her people are, a bone, apricots and carpet to roll on. When we long for home the stuff of earth begins to lose its attraction, and we care more for others down here. My prayer for you today is that you’ll be a little bit dog-like. That you’ll long for heaven, that you’ll take your requests to God. You may want to kneel by the sofa and talk to Him. If you see the garbage man coming, resist the urge to jump up on the back of that sofa and bark.