I was a police officer in Moab, Utah, in 1964. The picture is of me and my police dog. Butch was a wonderful companion and well-trained.
“A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” (Pro 12:10)
Journal,
I have so many wonderful memories of my pets through the years. My particular love has always been for dogs.
With this in mind, I would like to tell you a story about Mr. Smokey.
It happened in the late 60s. I was a preacher in the making, but my fulltime job was as an agent with Prudential Insurance Company.
During my canvassing time, I enjoyed going to a trailer park near the back gate of Fort Polk. I had a number of clients there. Actually I really liked working with GI families. (I had not long been out of the Navy.)
Anyway, when entering the park, the first trailer on the left had a fenced in front yard. Behind the fence was this very large but also quite handsome German Shepherd. It was my habit when passing the yard, to shake the fence and make fun with the dog by barking at him. It was never in a mean way. I was just picking at him. (His name was Smokey.)
This day it was different. After my little disrespectful tiff with Smokey, I walked on down the street. What I did not know was that Smokey had managed to lift the lock on the gate. He runs down the street ever so softly, jumps up on my back, and says ‘wolf’ right in my ear. Smokey drops to his feet and heads back to his yard. (Think I heard doggy laughter. Can’t be sure.)
People sitting on their front porch saw everything and they roared. Had I been a chicken, there would have been an egg in the middle of the street.
Smokey looked a lot like this German Shepherd.
Course that pretty much settled the score with Smokey and me. From that time on when I walked by his yard, I’d say, ‘Good day, Mr. Smokey. How are you today. So good to see you again. Talk with you later, Mr. Smokey.’ (Something like that.)
The truth of the matter is that Smokey always knew I was playing with him. He just figured that it was time for pay back.
Is there a lesson here? Perhaps the lesson has to do with compassion. The Bible does speak of …
The Kindness of the Lord
Some of the greatest teachings of the Lord had to do with kindness and compassion. Perhaps it was because of the rigidness of the religious leaders of that day. He often pointed to their lack of compassion.
Follow Lord’s teachings on what our attitude in life should be —
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
You can tell a lot about a man by how he treats his animals.
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luk 6:31-36)
The apostle Paul said that it is the kindness of the Lord that leads men to repentance.
The apostle also instructed the young minister, Timothy, about the use of kindness. Listen –
“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Ti 2:24-25)
Gentleness is the Very Nature of Jesus
Place your cursor over a Scripture reference and it will appear.
David said that it was God’s gentleness that made him great. (Ps18:35)
Teach your children to love animals.
The Bible says that Jesus was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter. (Jer11:19; Isa53:7)
Jesus said that if we would learn to walk with Him, we found find Him gentle and humble. (Matt11:28,29)
Peter said that the our witness to the lost, must always be in gentleness. (1Pe3:15)
Yes, it disturbs me greatly to see any animal mistreated.
Think about it. Would you really like to be like Jesus? Seek to walk in the spirit of gentleness.
How about a kiddie song just for the little ones – Of course you older folk can listen in.
Song – “God Made All the Animals.”
In God’s Grace,
Buddy
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