Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Doggone It!

Yesterday, on my way to work the cars on the other side of the boulevard were slowing almost to a stop. I frowned and looked to see if an accident had occurred. Nope. Then I spotted a white and tan dog, similar to this one but bigger, dodging cars in this four lane traffic.


Aloud, I said,"Oh nooo." I started to slow, but the cars traveling behind me inched toward my bumper, all headed to work at the 8:30 hour. I continued to look in my rear view mirror until I couldn't see anymore. None of the cars stopped. That scenario tugged at my heart all the way to work.


Why didn't I turn around and stop? I'm a dog lover, and knew this apparently well-cared for dog's people would be hunting him. Well, my boss loves dogs, but may not understand me being late for the patients at his office. And then this fast road is too dangerous to stop on the side, much less try to corral a dog. And last, what if I did all that and the dog was vicious? Those are my excuses.


"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.... Romans 12:6


What other things have tugged at my heart and I refused to follow through? Knowing someone who needs that phone call and I put it off until it was too late, bringing food, or companionship to that person the Lord has put on my heart, helping at church when that tug comes, encouraging a neighbor, or mending fences, and so on. Why do I shove aside those thoughts, like a runaway dog?


Because, I don't want to put out the effort, usually. I don't want to use the gifts and grace the Lord gives me. I don't want to offend or I don't want to get hurt if the situation doesn't work out, and so on.


Did you catch that? My sentences all use the letter "I." No sharing, no caring. The letter "I" is the word of the day. I want to keep all my gifts to myself, the Lord gave them to me and they are mine. Ooops, there's the letter, "M."


Lord, take out the letter "I" from my thoughts and replace with the letter, "O" for others. May I act on the next tug You send.

13 comments:

Bina said...

"Lord, take out the letter "I" from my thoughts and replace with the letter, "O" for others. May I act on the next tug You send." is a nearly constant prayer from my heart.

Beautifully written...I can understand where you were coming from with the dog...and how often do we ignore the soft internal prompt for the beggar on the corner or at the grocery store... We can come up with so many "good" questions and still come to the same result: No Action...

Thanks my friend...

Diane said...

Beautifully put. :O)

Karyn said...

amen.

Wonderful post, and I can totally relate to everything you said and thought, I have done the exact same things, I suppose it is part of the human condition.

I am going to make more of an effort to replace "I" with "O", since it is only through helping others that we can truly please the Lord.

Thanks, Karen for the reminder :)

Hugs

Parsley said...

Powerful post and so true. Thanks for this post; we all need the reminder to be vessels for the Lord.

Jeanette Levellie said...

Oh, Karen. I feel your pain re: the lost doggie. Those kinds of sights break my heart in pieces.

I love it that you are sensitive and caring. I'm sure the Lord will give you another opportunity to show your compassion, whether with a doggie or a person.

Bless you,
Jen
Audience of ONE

Karen said...

Bina, thank you. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who feels guilty. Thank goodness the Holy Spirit does prompt!

Kathy, thanks. Hope you had a good day.

Diane, thanks for your encouragement.

Karyn, ah, you're welcome. I love how we can all relate in this family of the Lord.

Parsley, yes, vessels of "use" and not to sit around and look pretty. :)

Jeanette, oh, it always feels like my heart is in my throat when I see a lost animal. Have lost a dog, (he was found) but know how owners feel. Oh, thank you for your sweet and touching note for the book. God bless.

Analisa said...

Excellent reminder for us all.

Karen said...

Thanks Analisa. It's a constant battle for me. But we have a great Father, no?

Maggie May said...

It was a heartrending sight but in the end you couldn't risk a major accident by stopping.
Some one some where was responsible for neglecting that dog.
Don't beat yourself up.

And..... thank you for those kind comments over at mine! You did stop that time..... you could easily have not! Sorry you had to visit at that particular time. Hope to be back to normal soon!

Nuts in May

Karen said...

Maggie May, your kind words warm my heart. You are most welcome and I will continue to pray for you and your family. What a witness you are! I'll stop back soon. :) Thanks for stopping in!

Bina said...

Karen...can you email me again? I can't find your other email and there was a hiccup with the book you won being mailed out... Need your addy once again :(
Thanks, Bina

Kathryn Magendie said...

Oh! I've seen dogs on the side of the road - or at least when I lived in So Louisiana I did a whole lot - and I never knew what to do - all of my dogs are rescue dogs, but, stopping in heavy flowing traffic is dangerous - and when they run from you, they run into traffic because they panic - poor babies.

(as to your comment- I already feel as if nothing is the same - yes, you are so right!)

Karen said...

Kathryn, yes it does seem they were more in La. OH what a beautiful granddaughter!!! I know your heart is singing! Congrats.