I was taking a picture with my puppy the other day. That “other day”, just so happened to be on a Sunday right after church. I was thinking of a cute caption to write under the picture and when I started writing out something about my dog, I realized what I was writing was similar to something I would say about my God. Then, it hit me that God spelled backward is dog.
Whoever came up with the term “dog” for this cute animal pet that a lot of us have, knew what they were doing when they called it that. Here are 5 reasons, in my opinion, why God spelled backward is dog.
Faithful
You know when you come home from work and you walk through the door and you suddenly hear little (or big) paws running across the kitchen floor to come greet you? There are also some days you come home and they are right at the door. Then there are some days you come home and have to call out for them and go searching. Maybe, they were busy chasing a bug around, or accidentally got stuck somewhere in the house, or someone else got home before you and already claimed them up in their bedroom playing. This give us a sudden “uncalm” and worried heart. Sooner or later, you find them and the weight comes off your shoulders and your heavy heart is happy again.
In life, we live day to day, and just going through the motions keeps us comfortable and content. Then one day, something does not go as planned, or we receive bad news of a car accident of a close friend, or a family member is diagnosed with an illness, or you wake up to the dreadful, “this isn't working out for me” text on your phone. This too gives us a sudden “uncalm“ or worried heart. The important thing to know in times of trouble is that He is always there. He does not go away when times are bad. He is always good. Our faith is sometimes questioned when we receive bad news, but this is when we must seek Him and find him. God and dogs are always faithful, and even though they may be hard to find at times, they are still there.
Forgiving
Name one person, animal, or thing that is more forgiving than your dog? Oh yeah, that’s God. But isn’t your dog a close second? Seriously, you can tell him “no”, a thousand times and he still comes running up to you the next time you call out his name. When my mom would tell me “no” even just one time, I would stomp away to my room and not come out or talk to her for hours. Reading the book, “Inside of a Dog,” I learned that dogs cannot cognitively experience “guilt” as an emotion. Dogs live in the moment and they don’t carry any guilt around making it easy for them to always forgive. Who else always forgives us?
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
We are so lucky to have Him as our savior because we don’t have to carry any “guilt” around either. We could really learn a thing or two from dogs.
Great Listener
My dog is such a great listener. Even when he does not know what I am saying, he looks at me with his sweet tilted head as I talk about all my life’s problems. You know you do it too! Even if you aren’t even talking directly to your dog, and you are talking to yourself while you wash the dishes, or curling your hair, and your dog lays nearby always listening. Sometimes I don’t even have to say anything, and my dog knows when I’ve had a “ruff” day. Dogs can feel our emotions and know when it is time to comfort us.
God is also always listening. Even though he already knows your thoughts and feelings, He wants you to talk to Him too. I feel like God gave us dogs so that we could actually touch and feel His comfort. It’s like He sent them to us to be our physical connection to Him, because most people can struggle at times with a spiritual connection to Him. Ever wonder why they bring dogs to hospitals? They are trying to normalize the setting for a patient, and fill that void of happiness to ease the pain of what they are going through. Now, you know why people who are lonely, just went through a breakup, or have been single for awhile usually get a dog. I’m telling you, dogs are a Godsend.
Goodness
Dogs have a goodness about them. They are honorable, truthful, noble, tender, warm, loving, understanding, and it is totally worth the relationship with them. But, sometimes dogs bite. God is good and I mean it when I say that He is always good. Sometimes God has to show us tough love to direct us in the way He wants us to go. But even when He bites, He is good. Just remember, there is always a lesson to be learned from it, and when you come out on the other side, you will be better and wiser.
A Best Friend
A dog really is a man’s best friend. They are always there for you, they have your back, and they are the definition of a companion. Often times they won’t leave your side, and even when you leave theirs every day between the hours of nine and five, they are always excited when you get back. They count on you, and you often times count of them. It is one of the healthiest relationships you can find.
God is also always there. Some days it is easier to hear His voice than others, and sometimes we forget to search for His voice. Often times as Christians we forget to pray, or we “do not feel like it”, or we are “too tired”. And just like a dog, after you are too tired to play with him, He is always there waiting for you when you are ready. Prayer opens the doors to unlimited access to our Savior. He is faithful, He is forgiving, He is a great listener, He is good, He is your best friend.
A dog can truly resemble the heart of God. And even though God is the only one that can answer your prayers, dogs will be there to comfort you when the waiting gets tough. There have been many discussions about dogs being sent as angels in disguise, I don’t know if that’s actually true, but they are pretty darn close!
