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| Bandit |
TODAY THE WORD is ROWDINESS. Early this morning and usually at least once on each evening, our two dogs engage in playful fighting. We have Bandit who is a Yorkie who we have had about 2 years when we adopted him from a shelter. Bandit is a “low rider” and we call him that since his legs are very short. He is a passive personality until Buster, our other rescued Papillon mix who went from a 3 pound little bear “cub” to a long legged dog of about 14 pounds of absolute “rowdiness”. If Buster is still, it means he is asleep or is chewing on something, usually something we don’t want him chewing on. He is a remote control thief and has trained Greg to put it away or else. He loves the insoles of Greg’s shoes and it goes on and on. He can destroy a toy in an afternoon, even the supposedly indestructible ones. He is the vocal doggie who tries his best to talk to Bandit and will try to start the rowdy play fighting by putting his paw on top of Bandit’s head. Sometimes, Bandit doesn’t react to begin with and looks over at me with a look to say, “Mom, can’t you make him stop?” But, as I said in the beginning, at least one time a day, Bandit reacts and the true rowdiness starts. They fight each other with their “teeth” flashing and play biting occurs. They toss around and usually end up with Bandit grabbing Buster’s front legs and bringing him down to his level so they are the same level. We think Bandit uses his brain to fight; Buster is a rough and tough ruffian. Once in a while, Bandit asserts he is the alpha dog by actually nipping Buster and Buster jumps back with a yelp. Are you asking by now, where is she going with this message and where is the life lesson in it? Here it is, the deeper thought. Bandit is the older, wiser dog with Buster still in puppy stage but with the size difference, Buster could out fight Bandit by size and energy. Bandit has thought through this situation and exercises maturity and smart nips to avoid being hurt. In life, we are faced with big problems and some of them seem to be more than we can handle but if we can have a Bandit moment and assess the problem, be calm, and make strategic moves; the bigger, rowdy problem can be moved out of our way and if it is ever bigger than we can handle; turn our eyes up to Heaven and say, “God, can you make it stop?”. Live life, love life, and live life to the fullest by reacting to life in a mature, loving, and compassionate way.
Buster
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(c) copyright 2013 Arline Lott Miller. The material here copyrighted, use only by permission.
