God Gave us Dogs
A friend of mine recently had to put down their long-time companion. The sorrow and pain of my friend’s loss got me thinking.
Anyone who says we don't love dogs, or dogs don't love us has never known a good dog.
Dogs will lay down their lives for their people-friends.
When things are dire, dogs do not seek their own benefit.
People may sometimes shout at their dogs or otherwise treat their dogs poorly.
Dogs keep no record of the wrongs they have suffered.
People may occasionally forget to feed their dogs or neglect them in other ways.
Dogs endure it all and continue believing the best about their people.
When our dogs get old or seriously ill, we hate to see them suffer. Sometimes things reach the point where it’s clear that our dogs will not get better, and their lives must end.
It’s difficult for us to face this eventuality. It’s painful. It brings us sorrow and even grief. But we do it to release our dog-friends from their suffering and free them from pain.
Release from suffering.
Freedom from pain.
These remind me of the reasons our lovely Lord Jesus became flesh and gave His life for us.
Scripture also mentions reasons like
binding up the brokenhearted,
proclaiming release to the captives,
freeing the prisoners,
giving sight to the blind,
rescuing us from the domain of darkness.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that He endured the cross for us.
The cross was painful for Him.
Death was painful for Him.
He became a man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief.
He did it because it was best for us.
That's what Love does.
Love is kind.
Love does not seek its own benefit.
Love puts others first.
Love endures all things for the good of another.
Love bears the cost.
We can identify closely with Jesus when we must suffer loss of our dogs.
We put their comfort first.
We endure the pain and sorrow for their good.
I’ve recently heard somewhere that in the world of dogs, it isn’t survival of the fittest. Rather, it is survival of the friendliest. I think that is an excellent thought.
Perhaps all this is the reason God gave us dogs.
Perhaps it was to help us see His great love for us.
Love that is not conditioned on anything we do.
Love that keeps no record of wrongs.
Love that endures all things.
Love that always believes the best of us.
