I like having him around. I grew up with a dog and I wanted to ensure that my sons learned the same lessons that I did about care for other creatures and a respect for animal life. I do not, however, always love the things he does.
- I don’t love that he pees in my kitchen, seemingly without a second thought.
- I don’t love that he got into a fight with a skunk and got sprayed last summer.
- I don’t love pulling ticks off of him after we go for walks in tall grass.
- I don’t love the added expense in our family budget to keep him alive and healthy.
In spite of all this, I am glad that he’s a part of our life. He gives me an opportunity to show selfless love. Through caring for him, I get a taste of what it’s like to love without expecting anything in return. My dog will never fully realize what I do for him and he will certainly never be able to pay me back. His value is simply in who he is, and our care for him is rooted in our love of that alone. It’s good to have avenues to love without expectation of a return, because that is how God loves us.
Questions for Today
- Where in your life are you able to give without an expectation of return?
- Can you think of a time you have experienced selfless love from others?
Lent Action Guide
This is an entry in my Lent Action Guide which will be featured all Advent long.
If you’re interested in downloading a copy or signing up for daily emails for the rest of the season fill out the form below:
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In