(Thanks for the inspiration to, who else?! Sparrow!)
"Sparrow"
Today is a special day in the Davis household as our beagle Sparrow celebrates her 10th birthday.
Before I proceed with a few thoughts, I'll answer the obvious question. Yes, she is as beautiful and sweet as the picture indicates.
Sparrow joined our family eight weeks after her birth as a surprise birthday present to my wife Frances. I bought her on a Saturday morning, brought her home, and called Frances and our daughter Emmie just before I got to the house. "Sit down in the living room, please" I requested. When Sparrow and I arrived, I placed her in a gift bag, entered the living room, and told the girls to shut their eyes. I then handed the bag to Frances and said, "Happy Birthday!". She opened her eyes, and at first didn't know what was in the bag. But she looked, and of course, she and Emmie fell in love with Sparrow upon first sight (I'd already had thirty minutes with her on the ride home, and had exactly the same feeling about her). Sparrow had provided countless moments of joy, and continues to do so. "Beautiful and sweet" really doesn't begin to describe what a wonderful beagle she is, and what an amazing gift of God Sparrow is to our family.
I will always believe I've had the best portion of the blessing because I had the privilege of being the human side of giving the gift (God, of course, being the primary benefactor). I would be hard pressed not to say that my favorite moment with Sparrow happened when Frances and Emmie first saw her and when she first climbed out of the gift bag and into their hearts. I always think of Acts 20:35 when I recall that moment: "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Certainly it is, certainly it was, and certainly even in this moment I rejoice at my double privilege of both receiving and giving Sparrow.
Sparrow will get chicken today, her favorite food, and she'll get an ice cream cone from McDonald's, her favorite treat (don't fuss at me, she doesn't get that too often!). More than that, however, she will give, just as she has for nearly ten years. And she will reflect the beauty and sweetness of the great Giver of all things. No words can begin to adequately express gratitude for the gift of receiving and giving that our beagle Sparrow represents to our hearts.
I look up and I see God.
I look down and see my dog.
Simple spelling, G-O-D,
word spelled backward, D-O-G.
They would stay with me all day,
I'm the one who turns away.
But both of them just wait for me,
and dance at my return with glee.
Both love me no matter what,
Divine God and canine mutt.
I take it hard each time I fail,
but God forgives, dog wags his tail.
God thought up and made the dog.
Dog reflects a part of God.
I've seen love from both sides now,
it's everywhere, Amen… Bow wow.
I look up and I see God.
I look down and see my dog.
And in my human frailty,
I can't match their love for me.
God and Dog, Wendy Francisco
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights."
(James 1:17)
"It is Your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
(Luke 12:32)
Weekly Memory Verse
"The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:23-24)
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