My wife made a brilliant observation this afternoon, “We have a really smart dog, don’t we?” She’s right. He is.
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As Yogi Bear would say, “He is smarter than the average bear.” He knows what a bucket is, a ball, a water hose, his cage, popcorn, football and he can ring the bell on the back door when he has to go outside to take a whizz.

This afternoon after we got home from running our normal Monday errands, I decided to pull my dog aside to see just how smart he is. I talked to him about squirrels and snow, two things he loves to chase, and he ran right to window in anticipation of some immediate outdoor fun. I talked to him about my two sons, Gio and Joe, and he ran to the front door to look. And then I said, “Cheese.” Yep, right to the fridge with dreams of tasty delights.

In that brief encounter with my dog, it struck me, I can learn a lot from this seemingly simple-minded brute.

(1) He is an immediate responder. When I tell him to do something, he instantly jumps up and is ready for action. No argument or uncertainty. He trusts my word, and he wants to do what I ask. This is hard for me. I know God wants me to pray, to be kind, to read his word, to love my wife and to listen to my kids…but I delay. I procrastinate. I question and argue while wondering, “Why should I?” My dog rarely hesitates, he wants to do what I say.

(2) He is not affected by other people’s bad moods, nor slights against him. When he stinks from rolling in the mud, my sons yell at him and send him back outside. He doesn’t pout or crumble under insecure thoughts, he leaves and waits patiently to be allowed back in. And when he finally can come back he never withholds his affection, he never plays emotional games. He looks past insults. 

I don’t, I get mad when people slight me. When my wife sends me away for not showering enough it hurts my psyche. I pout. 

(3) He finds joy in almost everything and everywhere. There is bliss in a small piece of cheese, a run in the grass, in a snowball to bite. And when I am there, his master, he is happy. What makes me happy? I am sorry to say that hardly anything does. I can eat an expensive meal and still expect more. I am not content. And is the presence of God enough? Or do I need to be entertained?

Two days ago I asked my dog who he is going to vote for. No response. I then asked him if he thought we needed to have more background checks. He shut his eyes. I gave it one more try, I asked him who will win the Super Bowl: He stretched. Rolled to his side and muttered in a low tone, “the Panthers, of course!”