by M. R. Wells
But what really put the twinkle in Mario’s eyes was nothing less than Keith’s Aston Martin DB5. Somehow, no matter what they were doing, Mario always found a way to get himself into the driver’s seat of Keith’s sports car and drive away on his own fantasy adventures.
One day, Keith felt the usual urge to be James Bond and went to get his car. It wasn’t on the shelf where it was supposed to be. Keith tore his room apart trying to find his silver Aston Martin. He searched the whole house, then the entire yard to the point of exhaustion. He finally realized the horrific truth. His precious car was gone!
Looking back, Keith still recalls his profound feelings of loss and violation, probably the same he’d feel if his present adult car were stolen. Actually, after a moment of reflection, Keith said he felt worse about the 1/32 scale Aston Martin.
Even as a kid, Keith didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to come up with his number one suspect. When Keith went by Mario’s house to inquire about his car, Mario’s big sister told Keith that Mario was busy. Mario never confessed to the crime. But before the DB5 incident, Mario was always dropping by unannounced to play. Afterwards, he never came over again. Keith had no proof that Mario was the culprit and short of turning his house inside out, Keith would have to take Mario at his word: he was innocent. He didn’t take the DB5. (Perhaps it was beamed up by aliens, or the victim of spontaneous combustion?)
Keith was devastated. But at least he still had his trusty pal, Fred, to lick his face and console him. Fred just listened as Keith ranted and spilled out his feelings about the stolen car.
Shortly after the car went missing, Mario and his brother were playing Frisbee in front of Keith’s house. An errant toss sent the Frisbee flying over the fence and into Keith’s backyard (Fred’s domain). Mario had gone over to Keith’s yard many times, and had no fear of gentle Fred, so he let himself in the gate to fetch his Frisbee.
Without warning, Fred attacked Mario and bit his hand. While not life-threatening, it was serious enough to send a crying Mario to the local hospital for stitches.
Later that night, Keith had a powwow with Fred. They locked eyes and silently communicated as boys and their dogs have done since the beginning of time. Without a word being spoken, Keith understood that Fred knew. His trusty dog companion knew Mario had been a very bad boy and took it upon himself to punish the thief. Up to that time, Fred had never laid a tooth on Mario. To this day, Keith truly feels Fred exacted the punishment on Mario that Keith could not. Even as a nine-year-old, Keith felt there was justice in the world.
How many of us have been wronged and there was nothing we could do about it? We didn’t want to stoop to the level of the perpetrators, we had no proof, or whoever did us wrong was far bigger and stronger than us. But if we do nothing but dwell on thoughts and fantasies of revenge, it can eat us up inside. Negative thinking can take up large amounts of space in our minds, turning our countenances dark and angry, building up unhealthy amounts of poisonous unforgiveness and hate.
But it’s not fair!
A building contractor recently swindled my wife and me out of a large sum of money. I hear it happens so much there’s actually a television reality program in development called Contractors from Hell. I called the police to arrest the man, but they said it was a civil matter. We sued him and won, but discovered that collecting the money is a whole other ballgame. A collection agency charges 40 to 50 percent if they’re successful in recovering any funds. Well-meaning friends told us to hire a hit man…or at least sic a “hit dog” like Fred on him.
Thinking about the wrong done to us churned up my insides. I couldn’t sleep at night. I could relate to how angry and frustrated Keith felt about being ripped off by someone he trusted. And how in the world could we finish the house without recovering the missing money?
It would be so nice if God sanctioned a Revenge Day where you could inflict Old Testament punishment on your enemies without fear of reprisal. But like Warren G. Harding’s birthday ever becoming a national holiday, Revenge Day ain’t gonna happen.
Little Keith had Fred to look out for him. My wife and I came to realize we have Someone, too, who looks out for us. We had to let go of our feelings of violation, anger, and pain—and wait on God. We had to believe we were God’s children and that He would take care of us like the best Father in the universe.
Just as nine-year-old Keith believed that Fred knew what Mario did and exacted justice—just as Keith could feel the burden of revenge lifted off his shoulders by Fred’s intervention—so we must believe what God our Father says in Romans 12:19 (NASB): “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
This is gospel truth. God says never take your own revenge. He’s the perfect Father who will take care of it for you.
Fred went to bat for Keith by biting Mario’s hand. God has cared for my wife and me in a different way. He has lifted the hatred and need for revenge from my heart. He’s gifted us with money to finish the house in ways that rival catching a fish with a coin in its mouth. Each time we receive this kind of monetary blessing, a little bell rings in my heart to remind me it’s from God. I no longer daydream about ways to poison our contractor from hell. God has lifted that burden off me. Nowadays, I’ve been praying for the guy who cheated us to repent and be saved.
Fred loved Keith.
God loves us.
It’s nice to have Someone looking out for your best interests.
The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed (Psalm 103:6).
Consider This:
Has someone ever wronged you and seemingly gotten away with it? How did it make you feel? Were you able to commit it to the Lord? How have you seen Him work in the situation? Have you forgiven the person or persons involved?
To Stray or Not to Stray
Stay Home with God
No man can follow Christ and go astray.
WILLIAM H.P. FAUNCE
The John Fleishauer family includes John, his wife, Sari, his daughter, Sierra, and two schnauzers. The dogs are nearly the same age and are both considered miniatures, even though they are somewhat different in size. Hangover is a gorgeous 23-pound male with a beautiful coat. He is tall and lean and stands like a champion, although in his heart he’s still a warm, sweet little puppy. Sadie is smaller, at just ten pounds, and has a more hyper personality. She loves to jump from lap to lap until she decides which one to snuggle into for some nap time.
One day, after the family had left for work and school, Sadie got out of the yard through a loose fence board. This was her first time to escape. Hangover was too big to follow, so she was on her own. Sadie’s family doesn’t know how long she was out. It was a half-day at the school where Sari taught, so she came home early. Their home is in a quiet neighborhood, but it’s near a very busy street. As Sari approached, she saw a little dog barking with all it had at a windmill on their neighbor’s lawn. Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she realized that the silly dog was her Sadie. She opened the car door and yelled for Sadie to come. Sadie stopped barking instantly, gave Sari a huge puppy smile, pranced over to the car, and jumped in. She began kissing Sari the only way she knows how—all tongue.
When Sari got Sadie home, she carried the dog inside and they both sat on the couch while Sari caught her breath. She could tell Sadie knew she was in trouble by the way she had her ears pinned back. But the little dog continued her sweet puppy smile, apparently hoping that Sari would forget what had just happened. Sari figured it was in a dog’s nature to roam and wasn’t about to punish Sadie after the fact. John fixed the fence, and he and his family planted a garden where the loose board had been.
Leaving the yard was disobedient and foolish, but thanks to Sari, Sadie was protected from venturing further and reaching the busy street. Years ago, back in my “puppy days,” I was foolish this way too. I disobeyed and wandered away, and I nearly got into big trouble.
I was 18 and had gone with some other young people on a missionary trip to Japan. We spent some time at a camp in the hills near Osaka. On our last day, we were told that a young woman had been stabbed near the camp the night before. We were warned not to leave the camp or go anywhere else alone.
But that evening, I felt sad to leave the people. I didn’t feel like singing or celebrating. In spite of what we’d been told, I walked out of the camp alone and down the road next to a cliff which led to a river. I sat down and dangled my feet over the cliff’s edge. Suddenly, I heard someone walking toward me. My imagination ran wild. I feared it was the stabber, out looking for another woman. Here I was, all alone in the dark. I was terrified. I stayed frozen until the person walked away. Then I begged the Lord to lead me back to safety. He did. I made it back to camp, and no one ever knew what I had done. But without God’s leading and protection, I can only imagine what harm might have befallen me.
Sadie and I were both protected by someone wiser than ourselves who loved us. Our straying could have led to far worse consequences. Sadie could easily have been stolen or hit by a car. I could easily have been killed. The stabbing near camp was only one in a number of murders, suggesting the culprit may have been a serial killer. I was sitting alone on a tall cliff with a river below. He could have easily slain me that dark night and pushed me over the edge, and no one would have seen him.
The Bible talks a lot about sheep and how they go astray. Yesterday I drove by a small flock of sheep that live in my rural neighborhood. I watched what appeared to be a mother sheep nudging her lamb back into the flock from where it had roamed. She shoved her little lamb with her nose as he reluctantly joined the rest. It made me think of the parable of the lost sheep in the Bible (Luke 15:1-7). It tells about how a shepherd left the rest of his flock to find one lamb that was missing. That was always my favorite story growing up. I think I related to that lamb wanting to wander. I’m sure it was just out for adventure, like Sadie the schnauzer years later. Though I wasn’t out for adventure that long-ago night in Japan, I strayed too far and could have paid an awful price. But my Good Shepherd stayed with me, watched over me, and brought me safely home.
The Bible tells us not to be foolish. We don’t need to be like silly sheep. We can forsake our straying ways, draw near to our Good Shepherd, and stay safe in His loving care.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Consider This:
Have you ever strayed from God? What were the results? How has the Lord been a Good Shepherd to you? In what ways might you need to come home to Him?
Squirrels and Girls
Beware of Life’s Temptations
Opportunity may knock only once,
but temptation leans on the doorbell.
ANONYMOUS
When Erin was 13 she went on a family camping trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan. They had a great time, as usual. Leaving the campground, Mom and Dad sat in front while Erin and her brother rode in back along with Gracie, their very independent and spirited golden retriever/Australian shepherd mix.
Being a warm day, Erin’s brother rolled down the window so Gracie could stick her head out for some fresh air. There are few things in a dog’s life more pleasurable than poking its head out of a moving car. Have you ever seen a dog do this without wearing a huge goofy grin on its face?
However, in a moment, Erin and her family were about to discover one of the few things Gracie found even more pleasurable than sticking her head out the window of a moving car—chasing squirrels!
Gracie jumped out the window.
Erin and her brother were in shock. One moment the dog was in the car, and the next moment she was gone! Her brother instinctively held onto the leash as Gracie suddenly found something more pressing than chasing the squirrel—running for her life alongside the car to avoid being dragged or choked to death.
Dad heard the kids screaming from the backseat. Then he saw the family dog doing 25 miles per hour outside the car. He put two and two together and slammed on the brakes. The family piled out and retrieved a traumatized Gracie. There was no physical damage, just a very freaked-out dog.
Needless to say, for the rest of the ride home Erin and her brother kept the window rolled up so only Gracie’s nose could poke out.
Dumb dog, huh?
But how many of us smart humans have ever “jumped out the window” before we looked? What’s your squirrel? What’s that all-encompassing obsession that makes you do dangerous, dimwitted, and downright stupid things?
For many of us guys, both single and not-so-single, it’s girls. It’s nothing new. It’s been that way since the beginning of time. Literally.
God personally warned Adam not to eat of the forbidden fruit, but Adam leapt out the window and bit in as it was offered to him by Eve. As a consequence, childbirth would become an absolute bear for the ladies and men would have their share of pain working to put food on the table. And if that wasn’t bad enough, now we all have to die.
Samson had a history of using prostitutes and fell in love with Delilah, a woman of questionable character. She was paid 1,100 shekels of silver by the Philistines to uncover the secret of Samson’s super strength. Even though he knew that divulging the source of his power would have disastrous results, Samson leapt out the window and told Delilah about his long hair. As a consequence he got a bad haircut, was imprisoned, and had his eyes gouged out. Ouch.
A whole laundry list of Israel’s kings took pagan wives and allowed those wives to lure them away from God and into idolatry.
And you’d think by now men would’ve learned from their mistakes. You’d think they would’ve realized that when you’re zipping down the autobahn of life and spy a woman (not your wife) by the side of the road, it’s not a good idea to jump out the window. But how many modern-day politicians, sports heroes, movie stars, and even priests and pastors have thrown caution to the wind and leaped out the window to chase a fleeting affair—only to do serious long-term damage to their careers and families?
And let’s not let women and happily married men off the hook. Temptation isn’t limited to chasing squirrels and girls. Its victims aren’t limited to dogs and the high and mighty. Giving in to temptation is a national pastime. Shopping for things we want and don’t need, constantly pursuing endless sales, specials, and the buy-one-get-one-frees of life…it’s all the dark side of the American Dream. Your squirrel could be whatever makes you leap before you look. It’s whatever pleasure you pursue that disregards God’s Word.
To put it in old-fashioned Christianese: it’s whatever causes you to sin.
It might be the usual suspects: sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. Or it could be that job that pays more—but compromises your morals. Or that new car or upscale home that beckons to you outside the window. They’d make you feel so much bigger, so much cooler—but would also slap you with serious debt and burden your family. It could be an addiction to food that makes you leap…into a quagmire of clogged arteries and heart disease. Even the pursuit of religiosity over a relationship with God can make you stumble, luring you into thinking you can get to heaven through works, not faith.
Fortunately, when we do leap out of moving vehicles, when we veer off the path of righteousness to pursue our lusts and passions, we have a loyal God who says He’ll never leave us or forsake us. As children of God, no matter how far we stray, our Lord always has a tight grip on our leash. We may fall from grace, smack against the pavement, and be shaken up, but if we humble ourselves and confess our sins, God promises to forgive us and take us back into the car. Amen!
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).
Consider This:
Have you ever been tempted to “jump out the window” to chase a squirrel? What about it was irresistible, that lured you? What were the consequences? What did you learn? What do you find most helpful
in resisting the squirrels that tempt you now?
Don’t Pick at It or It Won’t Get Well
Receive God’s Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the answer to the child’s dream of a
miracle by which what is broken is made whole
again, what is soiled is made clean again.
DAG HAMMARSKJÖLD
I had a treasured older friend who used to say, “Don’t pick at it or it won’t get well.” My little rescue dog, Munchie, was living proof. When I started fostering him, he had some serious skin issues. There were “hot spots” on various parts of his body. He had been partially shaved so these sores could be exposed and treated. But despite the medication, they were still bothering him so much that he was constantly trying to lick his wounds. This, of course, just made matters worse and didn’t let healing take place, so his rescue group gave me a cone. It was a plastic contraption shaped something like a megaphone and fit over his head. Theoretically, when this cone was tied in place it would keep the little guy from gnawing at his owies.
I soon discovered this particular cone didn’t quite stop Munchie from picking at his wounds. Nor was his current medicine keeping them calmed down. I did some makeshift bandaging to get us through the night and scooted him off to my own vet the very next day.
Munchie’s new doctor promptly recommended a slightly different medication and a new, larger cone. In short order, Munchie started feeling much better. He still wanted to lick at himself, but thankfully the new cone didn’t let him. It was cumbersome and I wished I could remove it sooner, but I realized he had to wear it so his wounds would heal. It took time, but gradually the sores got better.
Munchie’s healing wasn’t a straight shot. There were a couple of minor flare-ups. I had to cone him again, though briefly. My vet also helped identify the source of his trouble. He determined that Munchie was severely allergic to fleas. Even one fleabite could cause a significant problem. He urged that I take precautions to keep all the four-foots in my household flea-free. My dogs are now on a once-a-month pill, and my kitties get a monthly topical application. These procedures have done the trick. I have now adopted Munchie and he is a healthy, happy dog.
