Unconditional Love
This is Peanut!
He is a mutt. A Chihuahua and Dachshund mix and cuter than cute! At least I think so.
We adopted him on a whim from the Human Society who sits out front of PetSmart every Saturday hoping to snag a woman and a little girl with an adorable faced puppy. (Their tactics work!)
My husband was greatly concerned over this impetuous decision and protested, “You should never acquire a dog on an impulse.â€
He is right but two girls, who love him most in life, were working him over and he relented to our pleas. Thus began a journey of unexpected love, adventure, and expense.
Our adorable pup grew into an adorable dog that wandered off one night and was subsequently mauled by a rouge coyote in our suburban neighborhood. Peanut spent four nights and several thousand dollars in the dog hospital. He decided he was going to live and came home much to the relief of his “girls.†Over the years this dog has cost more money than all of our other pets combined.
Peanut is neurotic, hyper, and more finicky over his food than a cat. He has a pea brain and little training. But, he is amazingly loyal, beyond any other pet I have every known. He follows me from room-to-room until he is exhausted. He sits at my feet in the cold office while I type. He waits patiently for hours just to receive a pat on the head from me in passing. He walks every morning with me anxious to please me with his good walking behaviors. He is my little buddy.
I looked down at Peanut this morning during our walk and recognized unconditional love. I am perfect in his eyes. He loves me. Period!
So many times I have wondered how God feels about animals. I wonder if He created dogs in order that we can know what unconditional love looks like.
Although my dog is quirky, picky, and demanding of his own way, I love him. I understand him and delight that he loves me simply, purely and without conditions (except perhaps a dog bone once in awhile.)
Does God look down and see me with all of my quirky attitudes. Does He see me when I am picky or ornery? Does He smile down upon me with gentleness in His eyes? Although I fail and have many kinks to work out of my personality, I do believe God sees my love and loyalty and returns it to me a thousand times over.
Does God care about the animals? Yes, He does!
The Heavenly Father feeds the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26-30)
God quenches the thirst of the wild donkey (Psalm 104)
He causes grass to grow for the cattle (Psalm 104)
The high hills were created for the wild goats and the cliffs for the rock badgers (Psalm104)
God had compassion for the animals in Nineveh (Jonah 4:11)
During the creation, God gave every green plant for food for the animals (Genesis 1:30)
After the flood, God made a covenant with man and the animals (Genesis 9:9-10)
God instructs that even if we don’t like our enemy, we must care about their animal (Exodus 23:4-5)
Lord, Holy God, I know you care about every part of Your amazing creation. I thank you for your unconditional love for the animals and the for people of the earth. Lord, Your unconditional love is beyond my ability to understand, but I catch a tiny glimpse in the sweet face of Peanut. I thank you for the animals. They reflect your unconditional love and it is astounding, humbling. I love you Lord, Amen
Thank you, readers of Laced With Grace, for allowing me to write about the animals. I have wanted to post this for months. I am humbled to be a servant of the King and thank you for allowing me to share with you how many ways God reveals Himself daily. God bless you.
I would love to see a picture of your pet – even cats- *grin*! Email me
There’s a verse in Proverbs too. Something like, “a righteous man cares for the needs of his animals.” Nice post.
And look at Job 12:7 and forward. God DOES care for His animals. Yes, God uses our pets to display the meaning of unconditional love. And perhaps God sends them as ministering “angels” to us through their constant love, attention, and companionship.
Thanks for voicing your thoughts on this subject. A lot of us think about these things, too!
Thanks for sharing precious peanut with us, bless his heart.
What a heartwarming post.
lynn, thank you so much for sharing your peanut with us. I like your post very much. I also love dog’s loyalty to its host. Even one pat on its head can make it happy…
The Lord’s love for us is unconditional love,too. Thanks for the lord’s love for us.
I LOVED this post! I have always thought, “I am not an animal lover.” but I think I was in denial. AFter all, my first word was “dog.” Anyway, I have wondered so many of the same things as I look at my little dog as you have.
Awwwww, I am SUCH a dog lover! Yesterday my dog “escaped” and I found him in the middle of our very busy (and dangerous) street with two trucks honking at him. He slunk the whole way home. I can so relate to him! Every time I get lost, I slink home too with my tail between my legs. I praise God that he allows me to come back and doesn’t leave me there to fight alone.
Great post! I love seeing pictures of Peanut!
Hey, Lynn!
I posted about our little bunny named peanut over a month ago–right after he died. I definitely think God loves animals. Just because He gave us dominion over them doesn’t make them less in His eyes. I’m so grateful to Him for creating “our” Peanut, whom we loved for 5 years, for creating “your” precious Peanut, and for giving me my crazy golden retriever puppy, Annie, and our latest addition as of this Saturday?…a 10 year old Dachshund named Murphy. We’ll love old Murph for as long as we can, and WE’LL be the blessed ones for all the time we share.
Please pray for my friend, D, who just found out her dog has lymphoma and positive markers for other cancers, as well. The dog is only 4, so, while never easy, this is especially hard because “Cassie” is so young.
I think God uses pets to soften our hearts. I really do. Blessings and hugs.
Awww….I love the doggies & their stories. I’ve got three myself. I’ll have to email you some pictures.
What a devoted pet/friend you have in Peanut. 🙂 Thanks for sharing that part of your life with us. And by the way, I don’t care what “they” say, dogs have souls. 🙂
(Okay. I know that dogs probably really don’t have souls because the bible says they just return to dust, but can’t a person dream?)
You are right, Lynn. The unconditional love of our pets is amazing. They follow us around and love us no matter what. Okay, they like their treats too 🙂
I love how you have tied this devotion together. I love that God loves me the way He does – no matter what I get myself into.
Be blessed!