280 - The Grouchy dog

Wording of this Handout:

---

The grouchy dog.

I have seen this happen. A person gets some food form the fridge and puts it down for the dog, and the dog is really grateful, wagging its tail and happy. But then the person changes her mind and takes some of the food away. Suddenly the dog is growling, and threatening to bite!

The dog doesn't understand that the person gave the food, and the person has every right to take the food away. It is the person, not the dog, who is doing the providing. And assuming that the person is kind and thoughtful, the fact that he took the food away again was undoubtedly an act of goodness not cruelty. There must have been a considerate reason behind the taking of the food.

This is how it is between us and God sometimes. When we put our lives into His hands, that means we must accept that He gives us things, and He takes them away too. We must not cling to just the blessing, otherwise we end up like that silly dog, who had no trust in its master.

Mum! I think the dog might be mad at me!

The Bible says: "In every thing give thanks." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (King James version)