Better Things

Today I am puppy sitting for my neighbor, Anita, who is the "guardian angel" that God sent four months after my mom died to "mother" me and "grandparent" my boys. Dusty Miller, her 10-year-old Shih Tzu, is our family's adopted dog.

Borrowed pets, like grandchildren, share the love while saving the borrower the expense and care of being an honest-to-goodness pet owner. Anita has been loaning Dusty to us, at times to help her out, but often just to meet our family's unfilled furry friend needs. On this particular day, Dusty migrated right away to the water bowl we keep around for her and began lapping away. I quickly realized this was old water, having been here since her last visit nearly a week ago. Apologetically, I nudged her questioning little face away so I could refresh her dish with fresh water.

This 30-second exchange reminded me of how God often deals with me. Countless times He has refused to give me what I asked for, only to follow up with something much healthier and safer. Like Dusty, I often feel deprived, as if He is withholding something which seems, in my limited perspective, in my best interest.

I must resort to the words of Isaiah 55 if I am to relinquish my flawed will to His supreme one: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (vv.8-9). Still, when that attractive but stagnant water beckons me, it's hard to renounce it for the Living Water. So worth it, though.  
                
For more like this, check out: Better Things Part 2, AKA, Puddleglum's Save

        

                                               Better Things Part 3, AKA, Juggling