I think I have always approached our Great Dane, Samson, wrong. I told my wife recently I thought of him as a dog first. I realized that is simply not true. Sam isn’t just a dog. As my wife put it, he’s like our “third child.” We’ve had wonderful pets before, but there is something drastically different about Sammy. After a recent scare, I began thinking about how Sam (and our pets) show us how to treat others. The way Jesus did.
My dog, Samson, is genuinely happy to see us when we get home even if it’s only been a few minutes. He can’t tell us obviously, but it’s clear. Sammy shows us. He wags his tail. He sniffs us. He leans on us. He simply wants a kibble of our time. Sadly, there are days in which I do not give time to him. Yet every time I leave and return, there is he, waiting and wagging his tail, glad to see me. In other words, Sam shows me and our family love. That’s really all he seems to want to do. It is as if he was made for it.
We are commanded to show love to one another, yet do we? God is love. Check out the things that God is. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 reads:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
No doubt about it—God is all those things and more. Let’s look closely at what love—this thing we’re supposed to do to one another—really is.
Love is patient and kind. It does not say it’s passive-aggressive and irritable. It does not say grumpy or “hangry.” Patient and kind certainly describes Sam. He waits for kibbles of love and affection. He communicates as well as any animal we’ve ever had. He’s really funny about it, too. There he is, happy to see us each time we return. He’s curious about us. He wants us to be okay. He shows all of us love in his own way. If we fuss at him, he is still patient and kind.
Love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude; it does not demand its own way. Sam does not demand. He is incredibly giving. I don’t consider him rude, either, especially if you consider his burps and farts as not being rude. Sam really isn’t. When people are welcomed into our home, he welcomes them as well. He shares to the best of his ability. Sometimes, he does find ways to get in the middle if he’s not receiving enough attention or if my wife and I are picking on him. But, I would definitely say Sam is not any of those negative characteristics.
Look at this next part. Love is not irritable and does not keep record of being wronged. Has your pet ever held a prolonged grudge against you? I’d daresay most likely not. No matter who fusses at him or for how long, Sam does not hold a grudge. He willingly and easily forgives, and he’s right back at it doing his best to show love to others. Do we operate that way? I know I certainly don’t always.
Love doesn’t rejoice about injustices but rejoices when truth wins out. Sam does not want anyone hurt or upset. He tries to do his part in cheering us up. Sometimes, it’s a goofy look. Sometimes, it’s hinting he wants or needs something. Sometimes, he puts his head in our laps for love and affection. Really, when we act our true, authentic selves, Sam’s at ease. He loves it when we’re happy. He’s happy we’re happy.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. No matter what happens, Sam doesn’t give up; he strives to show us love. He’s a forever optimist. Sam will keep doing his part, keep checking in with us. Although it may be a while, he’s receptive when we’re open for attention. Samson is persistent and hopeful. He never, ever loses faith in us, his people.
My favorite part is the last part of the verse. Love endures forever. Now obviously, Samson or we are not promised the rest of this second. Yet, there is no doubt in my mind and heart that if he were the first to go, our family would never forget him. We would never forget his idiosyncrasies. We wouldn’t forget his quirks or habits. We wouldn’t forget the love he showed us every single day.
Now, watch this. Jesus has a love that exceeds even that of our beloved Sam. Jesus died for us on a cross. This fact gets easily read over, but I want to pause a moment for you to look at a link about death by crucifixion. I tell my children Hollywood portrayed His death brutally, but I imagine His actual death to be much worse. Reading the link establishes that.
God sent His only Son, who died for us and our sins on the cross. Imagine sending your child away, completely separating yourself from him or her. Jesus felt forsaken. But on the third day, Jesus arose. If the story stopped at His death, then He would be just like any other person. The story doesn’t stop there. We know God is love. The word “Christianity” seems tainted these days. I prefer to label myself as a Christ-follower. I think, too, if we put our emphases on establishing a relationship with Christ and spreading the love He has for us to others, that will go a long way to making a difference in the world today. Yes, there are many issues in the world today, and we need help in solving them. That help will not come from the media, social media, or spouting hatred or division. That help comes from Christ. If we spread His love, we’ll show the world the kind of love our pets, like Samson, shows us every single day. It’s that kind of love that Sam models and Jesus preached and commanded us to show that will change the world.
#pets #love #family #SpreadTheLove #ShareLove #ShareChrist #Jesus #Christ
dr. jason newcomb 
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