I've said those words more than a couple of times since Max the Wonder (Wandering) dog came to be part of our family at Christmas. I mean WHAT was Santa thinking bringing us a beagle puppy??
Max is a sweet dog and smart (mostly). Goes potty outside (Hallelujah !!) can do a couple of tricks and most importantly will let a certain little girl love -I mean LOVE all over him without getting disgruntled.
But, Max has a problem. His nose. His nose gets him into all sorts of wandering troubles. He'd follow that nose anywhere without looking up, or behind to the left or right. When he's on the trail of something there is no stopping him. He only weighs about 20 LBS. but when his sniffer is in action it feels more like 200!
I've chased that dog MANY times since Christmas, and let's just say this winter wasn't a pleasant one so LOTS of those times it was on snow and ice. One time I completely wiped out on the ice. That was the first time I uttered those words - SOMETIMES YOU JUST AREN'T WORTH THE TROUBLE!!!
I said them again this past week after one of our morning walks. He was so distracted by all the smells around him, I practically had to drag him the 2 miles. Couldn't or wouldn't stay on the path beside me, but instead pulling his leash as far and as hard as it would go, often feeling like he was taking my arm with him!
Between my grumblings, I began to wonder if that isn't sometimes me?
I could be enjoying a nice brisk walk. Walking step in step with my Saviour, but instead I'm so distracted by the things around me I am pulling and tugging and pushing the boundaries and missing the good stuff He really wants to show me!
Then I began praising and thanking Him-aren't I so grateful He NEVER says I'm not worth the trouble?!? He never throws the leash in disgust. Just lovingly keeps showing me the path.
The words from that old hymn kept going over in my mind:
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
To me that is one of the most amazing things about God's grace-He knows we are prone to wander and yet He loves us, not in spite of our weaknesses but because of them.
Thank You Lord, for always thinking I'm worth the trouble!
5 comments:
Angie, I really enjoy your blog and this one was especially a blessing to me as it is so, so true and something I struggle with every day. I love the way you tie every day events back to the One who matters. YOU ROCK!
what a great word picture! How true it is for all of us. thank you, Lord, for being so patient!
Thanks Mikayla-You rock too! Keep living for Jesus! He knows it's hard and He'll lead you if you let Him!
Words I have to hold on to everyday!
You are so right. Thank the Lord He never gives up on us or says, "You're not worth it!" We were worth dying for, and now we're worth it because He is developing us into His image. Thanks, I'm working on a similiar blog for "Challenging Concepts." Have a good day:)
Amen to that Bro. Eddie! I'll be looking forward to seeing your next post!
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