"Puppy Love"

My sister has a pet dog that’s part Jack Russell Terrier, part Pug named “Sheba”. She is the most annoying animal that I’ve ever come in contact with; constantly barking, always chasing the cat around the house although playfully. To top it all off, she is the most spoiled little dog in the world.

But…..on the flip side, Sheba is the most loving and lovable dog that I’ve ever been around. Anytime I leave the house, no matter how long or short; this little dog goes through her ritual of running around the coffee table a few times, jumping up on the couch once and then she jumps up on me wagging her tail as if I’d just returned from a long journey. She missed me that much.

However I’m not the only person who receives such treatment, she’s the same way with everybody that comes through the door. Here’s the kicker, you can yell at her, shoo her, or even push her away; no matter what response you give her, she still extends the same energy of love towards you.

Imagine; receiving that kind of treatment constantly from a little dog. Now imagine getting the same treatment from each other.

With us humans it’s so easy to say “I love you”…. Those are just shallow words most of the time, but it’s difficult to do I love you. Unfortunately our love is condition based, we only direct our love towards those who treat us well, or do good things for us. The Apostle Paul said concerning love:

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³ If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1^st Corinthians 13:1-7 NLT)

Men often speak of what they’d do in the name of love… but there are always conditions, women also tell of the love they long for and expect…. they may have a difficult time returning it…. and there are still conditions.

When God willingly sent his only son, Jesus, to earth for the sole purpose of carrying our sins to the cross; he did so inspite of our penchant to sin continually. He loves you and me with an undying love regardless of how disobedient we can be towards him, or how badly we treat each other.

My sister’s dog is a reminder of that kind of love…. There have been times when she became so irritating and annoying that I would put her in her cage…. She would obediently and dejectedly walk inside the cage. I’m sure that inside her little doggie heart, she was hurt by my actions…. But one thing always remains the same with her, Sheba will always show how much she still loves me…. without conditions.

If you want my opinion; that’s real “Puppy Love”