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| Scout resting in the sunshine |
I think we may have learned more from our family’s pet Lab than he learned from us. Last month, our beloved pet, Scout, passed away at the age of fourteen and a half. Since his passing, I’ve often thought about his sweet temperament and what made him so special to us.
His love – he loved us whether we deserved it or
not. Scout was content as long as he was close to one of us. As long as he could
look at us, in reality, as long as he could gaze at us long and lovingly. He
adored us with his eyes. I’m reminded of this beautiful verse in Psalms.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as
the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the
LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Psalm 123:2 KJV
Scout stayed close by us until his last breath. His faithfulness
and loyalty were unmerited, as was the unexpected blessing of his unconditional
love.
It makes me wonder how it is a dog can love his master so much and show
his devotion come what may, yet we human creatures fail so miserably to show the
same fidelity and devotion to our Lord and Master. How much more should we,
God’s creatures, serve and adore Him. Most of us are ungrateful creatures. Yet
while we do not show God the gratitude and filial love our pets show us, He
still promises to be more than a mother to her child.
When Zion said, “The Lord
has forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me,” God answered and said, "Can a
woman forget her nursing child, or have no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these mothers may forget; But as for me, I'll never forget you!” (See
Isaiah 49:13-16 ISV) He has engraved His children as a mark upon His hands. We
are ever before Him and never to be forgotten. What a promise of compassion,
loyalty, and love, even more unmerited and remarkable than any gift of love or
devotion we might receive from man or beast.
