A Love Beyond Our Strength

Theme: What does love ask of us today?

I read an article once and went back to find it again today. It was written by a lady who confessed that she gets rid of dogs when they stop being cute. She has given away four dogs in four years and wrote, “I’m a serial dogamist. In the early stages of the relationship, I’m head over heels. I attend all the puppy classes. I don’t even begrudge picking up dog poo. There is nothing I would not do for my new canine companion. But when things get complicated and they develop a problem, I don’t covet a dog-free existence like any other sane person. Instead, I start wondering if another, more suitable dog exists. Maybe one that is less bouncy, less barky, less inclined to moult everywhere. And so, the new search begins, and I cannot rest until I have found a replacement puppy to lie adoringly at my feet.”

Kirby and I rescued two dogs from a puppy mill 15 and 14 years ago. These two pups, one with ear mites so thick it looked like tar and one with worms, have been great joys in our lives. Today, the oldest male dog has a form of dementia and wakes up multiple times a night to go outside and eat. The other, his little sis, has degenerative heart valve disease and has been living on borrowed time for over a year now. She is on four meds and sees a veterinary cardiologist every two months, with each visit costing around $700. Each mostly sleeps and eats now, barely resembling the two dogs who romped and played in times past.

At 2 AM, as I stumble outside in a sleepy stupor, I wonder whether this is worth it. The answer? Of course it is. This is love, for better or worse, a love that is not conditional and easy. A Jesus-type love.

Pastor Dan spoke this Sunday about what love asks of me today, and that love is not about feeling, but what we do. This love pertains to our Imp and Pyx, and all of us in the Body of Christ, as we love “God’s children” through thick and thin. Who are God’s children? Pastor Dan made a great point in pointing out that all creation is His, including those humans who are troubling. Christ loved the woman at the well, the blind man, the woman tugging at His cloak, the disciples, and me. Pastor Dan’s point? Can we love differently than He loves us? I hope not, especially if we have accepted and are the beneficiaries of His love.

Pastor’s admonition is to wake up. Do not sleepwalk through life, forgetting the love you have received. The lesson from Kirby and my love of Imp and Pyx is that it is not always easy, and it is not about feelings.

Just love how Jesus loves you. And how is that? Remember the cross, and where Jesus was before He accepted the assignment.

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Scripture: Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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Prayer:

Lord, whenever I am tempted to give up on someone, think loving is too much work, or that this relationship is not what I bought into, let me remember how much work I am for you and how you love me. When I was blaspheming you and living as if I were a god, you actually left paradise, lived as I do, and was mocked, beaten, and crucified by those you created. How did you do that? Lord, the next time I pull back, cower in the face of a troubled relationship, or think someone is not worth my love, remind me of what you did and do for me. I cannot even pray this prayer without your love and your gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you my Lord. Amen