JANUARY 27, 2023

 "Over the years I have felt the truest, purest love -- the love of God, really, I imagine that's what God's love feels like -- is the love that comes from your dog,"

― Oprah Winfrey

EXODUS 13-15

13Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”(14:13-14)

MATTHEW 19:1-15

13Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”15When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

JOURNAL 

Yesterday we had to put our dog Freddy to sleep. While it was absolutely the right decision it is still hard because I just think that a dog (pet's) love is just so pure. I think it is one of the closest things we have in experiencing God's love, much in the way of how Jesus talks about children. A dog doesn't care whether you failed or succeeded today or whether you live in a shack or a mansion. He doesn't care if you betrayed him or forgot about him or talked terrible about him. He just shows up everyday and loves. Dogs accept your love without reservation or doubt and trust you till the very end. 

After we posted...It was amazing how many people commented and communicated sincere heartfelt concern and love to us yesterday and today. It just shows that in the end...what really matters ( at our core ) has nothing to do with possessions, intellect, success or really anything that our modern culture pronounces as important. What is vitally important though is how we handle love. How we accept it and how we give it. I think we can learn a great lesson from our furry companions...I picked this up from and article on "The ways you should be more like your dog".  

• Always trust your instinct
• Love unconditionally without trying to figure out why.
• Learn to forgive even what seems unforgivable.
• Be a loyal and devoted friend.
• Play, play, play, and play some more.
• Live completely and totally in the moment.
• Be aware of the feelings of those around you.
• Let yourself go totally nuts when you see someone you love.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. 6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6