I Can Show You Better Than I Can Tell You

We didn’t always have dogs in our family. But when we got our first one, there was no going back. Cooper was our first “lap” dog, a Yorkie we gave our daughter for her 23rd birthday. As my husband drove Cooper and me home to surprise our daughter, it occurred to me how calm Cooper was. He sat quietly in my lap and with complete trust. At 4 pounds, he was so small, he fit into the pocket of my scrubs. You would think that he would be anxious and fearful. After all, he didn’t know us. But somehow he sensed we would take care of him.

Contrast this with my experience on an airplane. A couple sat across the aisle from me with their 2 dogs. One dog was calmly resting in his owner’s lap. The other, also a Yorkie, was panting, sweating, restless, and could not be contained. After trying to put him under the seat in his carrier, the couple ended up holding him in their lap for his safety. He was beginning to overheat and the flight attendant brought water and a cool cloth to help calm him.

I was struck by the similarities of this little dog’s angst, and our own as children of God. The dog’s owners clearly loved and cared for him and did everything within their power to calm his fears. Their words of encouragement could not get through his heightened alert, lack of control, and fear of what was happening.

Sound familiar? At least for me, it has taken God not only telling me, but showing me how He cares for me. He has never let me down even when I was on heightened alert, felt a lack of control, and fear of circumstances, or what might happen. Scripture tells us to be calm, anxious for nothing, and to trust in Him. Should be easy, right? For me, not always.

I can show you better than I can tell you.

What an example of God’s love for us! God has told me, but even more, He has shown me who He is by His faithfulness in my life. And like that sweet dog on the plane, though I may worry and become restless, I do best when I listen and trust in Him.