When you have two puppies from the same litter, you have a lot of jealousy and competition. Much of my daily amusement comes from watching our two eight-month-old female puppies, Dimples and Pepper, interact with one another.
Last night …
I gave them each a ‘gift.’ Mind you, it was nothing special. There were a couple of bagels in the fridge, getting hard and dry and soon-to-be-hairy. Each pup received the present. Pepper began to gnaw on hers till it was gone, but not Dimples. I don’t think she particularly liked it, if so, it would not have lasted a minute! No, she carried the treasure outside and assumed the guard-dog position, lying beside the bagel, eyes fixed on the back door. If her sister approached the door, she did her mean do ‘routine’ a ferocious warning bark followed by frantic tail-chasing. (We think it means something like, “My tail runs when I chase it, and you’d better, too!”)
She nervously patrolled the bagel for hours until it was time to come inside for the night. I called and called, but she refused to budge. I decided to cook a favorite treat, a fried egg. The aroma did not move her.
I fed Pepper the delicious egg instead, then for fun gave her some pepperoni and a little tasty cheese. She was most appreciative. Dimples was oblivious to all the good things her sister was getting while she hoarded her hard, tasteless bread.
I thought, “How amused God must get with me sometimes! While I guard some “treasure” that I don’t think I can give up, He has far better gifts to pour out. But only when I’m not concerned about holding what I have does He shower me with the rest.”
Even as I write, Dimples is lying against the sofa, sleeping, her precious bagel behind her back. It’s a picture I will remember the next time I get too impressed with one of my own talents, or when I am unwilling to give God something He asks of me. I know His gifts are precious gold, and mine are just hard, moldy bagels.
~Author Unknown
