Thirty-one years ago this March, I was blessed to become the father of a sweet little girl. Over the years, Mary has grown into a beautiful young woman and wife. She and her husband recently moved from Texas and now live near Richmond, VA.
Mary and Scotty are the proud parents of two pit bulls named Luna and Jax. These dogs provide hours of companionship and joy as well as work and responsibility. They also secure the home during the day when their owners are working.
While still near Dallas, Mary and Scotty installed some inexpensive cameras allowing them to eavesdrop on their pooches. As expected, most of their checks revealed two dogs lazily chilling out.
The difference came in the evening. While many other vehicles passed in front of their home, Luna and Jax remained relaxed and unconcerned. As Scotty and Mary’s VW Atlas approached, however, both dogs went into high gear. They jumped up and excitedly waited at the door anticipating the opportunity to greet their masters and enjoy some good lavish loving.
Their neighborhood was busy. There were hundreds of apartments and hundreds of cars to go with them. Many city sounds competed for ear attention.
Somehow, Jax and Luna could discriminate between all the vehicles to identify the one that toted their loved ones. The embedded sound of their owners’ approaching car became the highlight of their day.
It’s great to be anticipated, cherished, and loved that much, and it’s a blessing to have a person or pet that we can show our affection to in return. God has wired us to both give and receive this most precious gift called love.
As I reflected on this, it not only made me smile, it reminded me of how Christians should relate to Jesus. We ought to be so in tune with Him that we can detect His voice over all competing voices in our world. He told us that His sheep know His voice, listen to it, and follow Him.
The other aspect is the joyful anticipation of spending time in His presence. Sharing moments with our Master should be the highlight of our day! Although we may get distracted by other responsibilities, what a privilege to curl up in His lap and enjoy His love.
Thankfully, He can be with us at all times in all places, but there are those special occasions when we can sense His closeness. May we be so sensitive to His Spirit that we ignore all other background noises and enjoy precious time with Him.
This same expectancy should characterize our anticipation of Jesus’ return. The New Testament writers look forward to the great joy believers will experience at His appearing. The eagerness that caused John to write in Revelation 22:20, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” ought to be ours as well!
In the meantime, may we attune our hearts to Jesus that we might enjoy every moment we can. Happy Birthday Mary and Blessings to all.
George Bowers – CBC Executive Board member
