A Dog and Humiliation
Welcome to season eleven and a new day that brings with it new opportunities! It’s Monday! My goal is to put a smile on your face today! Pay close attention to the end of the podcast session for an exciting opportunity.
Ever so often my daughters, their husbands and kids join us for a grill out and fire pit time at our home. It’s easy for us to do often because we live on a Culdesac as neighbors. I know, I am richly blessed. During these fire pit times the grandkids will say Pop Pop tells us some stories. Stories are a powerful tool for passing on values and history. They can also be entertaining and funny depending on just how vulnerable a person is willing to be.
When I was a boy I had a paper route for a brief time. I wanted to make some money. I had a bike, lived in a small town with no hills at the time and could cover a lot of ground. On my route though there was an issue. One of my neighbors had a dog that would chase and bite at me as I rode by. I always hated that part of my route. Well, as fate would have it, one day I found my dads can of Mace. As a young boy a brilliant idea, came to me! I could use this to teach that dog a lesson and man was I was eager to get to that house. As I approached I had the can of mace in my hand ready to conquer this pesky dog. He was about to learn his lesson. As I drew closer he came full speed ready to bite my leg. When he got close I pointed the can of mace and sprayed! It was then that I discovered it was pointing the wrong direction. The stinging and temporary blindness clued me in. I wrecked my bike into the roadside ditch and the dog bit my leg and pulled at my britches briefly as I lied there. Can’t say for certain but I imagine that dog pranced away proudly having won the victory.
When I got home crying from pain and my humiliating defeat, my sin found me out. I didn’t have permission to take that can of mace. I had to face my dad and He was very angry with me. Talk about your double humiliation. I experienced double defeat on a day that began full of hope and excitement for an heroic victory.
Not everyday turns out like we plan it too. But if we think about it, it’s just one day and not all our days go wrong. I’ve learned that most of my bad days I crated on my own by not thinking clearly or doing something I should know better than to do. Thankfully, my Heavenly Father has promised to never be angry with me over it. He allows me to learn the lesson humiliation and consequence can teach me, but He is not angry with me. I know I am greatly loved and there is a tomorrow on the horizon. Perhaps being able to keep a right perspective at the end of a bad day is the greater victory! Getting back up and learning the lesson knowing that you are still loved can be powerful. Mistakes can’t stop a true child of God. So don’t lose hope or give up just because you had a bad day. Get back up, know that you’re loved and expect new mercies. They are yours for the taking each new day!
I would like to hear one of your stories in order to share it here. It needs to be vulnerable, humorous and definitely around 2 to 3 minutes tops. Email me at goodnewsthatactuallyis@gmail.com and we will set up how you can get it to me. If it is selected for sharing you will be notified as to when it will air. But for that to happen you will have to get it recorded and sent to me. Have a great day!
