Kim Bryan

The first photo we ever took of Shane.

When we rescued Shane from the animal shelter, we were told that he had been found while roaming the streets, so the agency had no background information about him.  We have no idea how old he is, where he came from, or what his life was like before we met him.

There’s a running joke in our family regarding his age.  Everyone makes fun of me because I tend to err considerably on the side of guessing him to be much younger than he probably is, and I tend to go backwards in my math rather than forward when I calculate his probable age.  If I’m forced to look at it realistically, I would guess that Shane is somewhere around five to six years old.

His behavior in the last several months, though, has made me wonder if he isn’t older than I would like to admit.  He is beginning to get a stubborn attitude found sometimes in older dogs.

Shane is very smart, and he has learned a lot of commands and words since he has been with us.  Shane regularly learns whatever names we give his various toys, and he retrieves his toys by name.  This dog does not miss a trick.  So when I give the command, “Shane, come!” he knows exactly what I am asking him to do.

When I give the command, Shane has a choice to make.  He can choose to obey it immediately (his best choice), choose to obey it after taking some time to consider his options (not as good a choice), or choose to flat-out disobey the command (the worst choice).

I am always so pleased when he comes immediately when called.  I, of course, know that I am calling Shane for a good reason.  I never call Shane just to watch him run aimlessly around our house, looking for me.  Often, I am calling him for a reason that he is going to be very excited about – to go for a walk or for a ride in the car.  Regardless of the specific purpose of my command, it is always for Shane’s best, and it is always best for Shane to obey it right away.

When Shane delays in his obedience or chooses not to obey, there are always consequences.  There becomes what I call the “distance of disobedience.”  Because Shane has chosen to disobey my command, things have changed in that moment, for that moment.

I can’t reward Shane’s disobedience by ignoring it and by proceeding with taking him on a walk.  I have to address his disobedience before we can embark on his favorite thing to do.  I have to patiently teach him that it’s not good for him to disobey my command.

This is what God does with us and for us.  As our perfect Parent, God does not ignore our disobedience.  Instead, He patiently teaches us that it’s not good for anyone (Him, us, other people) when we choose to disobey His command in our lives.

And if it means God has to withhold a blessing that He had intended for us while He waits for us to learn our lesson, He will do it.  He will do it in love and because it is what is best for us.

I hate to spend time correcting Shane; I would much rather spend time on a walk with him or on doing something else with him that he loves to do.  But I know that it is best for him to learn to obey, and I am committed to doing my very best for him.

God has made the same commitment to us.  Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Let’s commit to receive God’s training and correction as He gives it to us – in love.  God is love; He can do nothing but love.  Even His correction in the face of our disobedience is pure love.

Let’s be grateful for the gift of God’s patient, pure, and perfect training, and let’s commit to learning each lesson He lovingly teaches us.

Peace to you,

Kim