We celebrated Aslan’s two-week homecoming the other day. 10 weeks old already! And he’s growing like a weed! The past two weeks have been a whirlwind- so fun & challenging. Who knew a new puppy would be so much work!? (Well, everyone who has had a puppy before did! Reality didn’t set in for us until day 2!) Not quite as much as a new baby for sure, but he definitely has altered our daily lives. And he is just like my husband- go, go, go and then crash. He’s one little busy guy! Long walks, runs, puppy naps, chewing…on everything- his bone, blanket, ropes, balls, red lightbulb toy, cabinets, walls, stools, socks, & underwear! (Thank goodness for Grannick’s Bitter Apple Spray!) Biting…our feet, hands, chin, arms, pants, forehead….oh man!
But in the midst of all of his puppyness, he’s adorable. What a cuddler! And he’s so smart- now when we walk, he knows about 2 blocks away that we’re coming home and starts sprinting to the steps. But my favorite thing about Aslan is how he loves to be with people. He just wants to be with you. He’ll whine when you’re just two feet away from him on the other side of the gate. He sleeps right at your feet when you’re on the couch. And when I sit on the stool in my kitchen, he tries to jump up on the other one to be by my side, or he’ll twist his body to fit under the stool to be under my feet.
It hit me today as I was sitting with Aslan and he was excitedly trying to jump up on the stool to sit with me. I thought, “Man, he just loves being with us. Every minute he can. He never wants to leave us.”
And then I thought, “What if I was like that with the Lord? What if I just couldn’t get enough of Jesus? If I constantly looked to Him, if I constantly longed to just sit with Him, at His feet? To rest with Him, to walk with Him, to delight in Him?”
Not that I’m saying we’re like dogs! But I am learning a lot about the Lord and my heart through my dog. What if we so longed to be with Jesus as our dogs long to be with us? How different our lives would be. So often I go through my day without thinking of the Lord, or knowing He’s there, but just going on as if He’s not.
But God is with us.
Immanuel.
God is here.
With me.
In me.
I want to want to be with Him more than anything else.
Lord, may my heart long for you and you alone.
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” || Psalm 42:1-2
Do you long to be with Jesus? How do you welcome Him in to every moment of your life?
Beautifully written. <3
Amen! This is soo inspirational Alyssa! It really gave me goosebumps! May our hearts thirst and hunger for God. May God create more love for Him in our hearts, so we may live our life glorifying him! ^^
So nice to see things like that…in the most common things in life God wants to show us something…we just have to be open to see and learn:-)
Thanks for writing Alyssa;-)
Blessings!
I’ve often felt as though God was teaching me things through my puppy. Nicely written Alyssa!
I believe my dog Oscar was a direct gift from God to me. Even though some naysayers say it is coincidence, I see his presence in my life as a specific answer to prayer. Because of this, he is more precious to me than a million dollars. Let me back step a little…I had been asking God for about a month to put a stray dog in my path to keep my other SPCA dog Cassie company. I told God if he did, I would take it in. One day I was walking Cassie, and I see this tiny bundle of fur racing around the neighborhood. He was trying to get her to play with him, who just eyed him with her normal Bichon-poodle disdain. He had escaped from my neighbor who was operating a back yard puppy mill. They had left him and other puppies alone for days with only food and water dispensers to care for them. I paid for him but I still consider him a rescue dog because I rescued him from living life in a tiny, dirty pen. When I first saw him, I immediately said your name is Oscar. Later, I was prompted to look up what his name means online. It means God’s spear or Divine spear (http://www.sheknows.com/baby-names/name/oscar) in Celtic. Oscar is definitely my protector–all 7 pounds of him. He thinks he is vicious and successfully intimidates every big dog he sees, no matter their size. He is God’s gift to me! He is proof that I serve a God who listens and cares about my everyday needs. Sadly, I don’t always remember that right away when times get tough, but I am glad God gave him to me as a constant reminder of his love for me! So I too see God’s loving nature in an animal’s eyes.
Amazing…super sweet how the Lord can show us the most amazing things,whether it be about our hearts or our spiritual lives, through His simplest but sweetest creations 🙂
Beautiful. The things we learn with the simple things that we hold dear and it’s the lord just teaching us little by little, day by day. Just waiting for us to understand and become closer to him. God Bless you Alyssa 🙂 thank you
Everything I read from you i can always apply it to my day( I, on the other hand think you can read my mind. 🙂 )
Thank you for being in my life! Can’t wait to cuddle with the little mister. ~Ant
So true… I took a moment to consider what life would be like if I were as excited to be in God’s presence as a dog is to be in their owners…I realized I would probably be as happy as a dog is all the time. Thank you for the simple reminder to take time to revel in the presence of the Lord.
hey Alyssa, your post reminds me of the book “Cat and Dog Theology: Rethinking Our Relationship with Our Master” by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison… have you heard of it? your post encourages me a lot. thank you. be blessed
Wow! Love this! I have a little doggie too and she is the same way. She just wants to love and be loved on all the time. She is always seeking to be beside you, even if it means sitting in very uncomfortable positions and spaces. Love reading your blog! 🙂
you inspired me so much that I have started a blog. I hope it will help me to grow as it has for you, and that I will walk more intimately with our father. feel free to check it out if you want and offer any feedback! http://365daystogrow.blogspot.ca/
Coram Deo <3 We are before the face of God 🙂