Zena's Devotion

Sharp cries of surprise and pain can frequently be heard in Critter Patch these days. You see, I recently was given Zena, a Mastiff puppy, and she seems to enjoy getting under foot, literally. She's a great big clumsy pup with more energy than coordination. Large dark eyes peer out from soft brindle fur which is highlighted nicely with a white chin, chest and feet. I love her dearly, and she loves me. But I am still waiting for Maysie and Twinkie, my two Jack Russell dogs, to cast their vote for the newcomer. Maysie plays with her until Zena inevitably loses her footing or trips and sprawls on top of her. Maysie is flattened under her weight but holds her tongue, as good sisters should. She wriggles free and quickly seeks the safety of a chair too high for Zena to reach.
Twinkie won't chance playing with her; she just perches on the arm of her chair and watches the antics of the younguns from a safe spot.

The most wonderful thing about Zena is her heart. She has an amazing capacity for love, as most dogs do. She wants to be as close to me as she can get. She doesn't let me out of her sight and will stop a game of tug-o-war with Maysie to follow me when I leave the room. Her top priority is me. Wherever I am standing, she is right by my foot. I can't seem to move without colliding with her. I step on her toes, tail and floppy ears; I trip into and fall over her. She cries out to let me know that what I've done has hurt her but she loves me still and continues to forgive my blunders. And she trusts me enough to lay at my feet once more. It amazes me! (How many times would I forgive another for stepping on or hurting me?) This dog forgives so completely that within seconds she has forgotten my mistake and let go of the pain I inflicted.. She doesn't question me, and she isn't cautious, in extending her love or trust. She is willing to put herself out there ~ to show me her love, knowing that it could cause her pain. -- Zena is patiently waiting for me to love her enough to be aware of her presence and to determine her position before changing mine. This process has been a difficult one for both of us, but I am starting to get the hang of it.

As I considered Zena's devotion, I began to see God's love for me reflected through this pup.

God wants to be close to me, but I often get busy and forget that He is there. I step out in pursuit of some perceived desire and fail to ask His position before I move in the direction of my choosing. This often causes Him pain ~ first, because He knows the pain it will later cause me and second, because I didn't love and trust Him enough to remember to ask Him first. I know that the pain I have caused my Savior through the course of my life is an overwhelming amount. Yet He loves me still. He forgives and forgets/lets go of the pain and comes to be close to me once more. How much better it would be if I would seek Him first, focus on Him and go only in directions that do not cause Him pain.

I believe God gave me Zena so that I can see a living example of selfless love carried out in my everyday life. My desire is to seek God and to be in tune with Him so that His love can grow in my heart, enabling me to forgive and love others like He loves me.

Blessings to you my friends, Bonnie Morsette ~ 5/7/2009