I have this walking armpit of a dog. His name is Judah. He is quite beautiful actually, a sable colored collie with blue eyes. My problem with this long term commitment to my family is his insufferable coat. He sheds uncontrollably in the summer and when I don’t take him to the groomers, he starts the process of smelling up my house and making huge messes. He drops hair everywhere. Everything he touches as he walks by is covered in hair. I sweep and clean up after him more than I ever did my own children. I have a sensitive nose and the odor that is always present around him is as dense as a cloud of ash. Today as he walked by me I gave up and brought him outside for the longsuffering task of removing this offensive undercoat.
Before starting that task it occurred to me how I can ignore situations in my life that leave me in a stinky Judah state. Everywhere my Judah goes he offends and adds the aggravation of hair to my floors and sofas. My guests (which are frequent) are often having to use my sticky roller thing before leaving my home.
I grabbed a leash and three specialized brushes and a shedding instrument and began the work. I need the leash because he doesn’t really like it (grooming) but he really loves me. With every stroke bushels of hair come loose and are placed in the garbage bag beside me. It didn’t take long to fill the bag. I realized in that moment how quickly we as people can become stinky and work to others without intention. The longer I ignore the grooming process of the Word of God in my life the more my undercoat grows and if not dealt with can grow into mats. Little problems became bigger issues if ignored.
When I surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit that I love, the faster the grooming of my soul can happen. So I took my time to loving speak to my Judah (smelly armpit dog) and helped him do what he cannot do for himself. Make him clean, make him fit to do his job. To love us as a family and me especially : ) I want to be fit to do my job and the only thing that can help me is to sit with God and let my time in worship and study do its work.
Here is to hoping I’m not a smelly mess to others J
Sep 17, 2008 @ 18:40:43
What you just wrote about your smelly armpit dog spoke more to me than what I’ve heard/seen in a while. Ha. Just thought I’d let you know!
Sep 17, 2008 @ 19:57:27
It struck me that you had to use a leash to get him to sit still with you even though you know he loves you. How many times has the Lord had to put a short leash on us for us to sit still at His feet even though we claim to love Him?. Many times a short leash of uncomfortable circumstances, make us mindful that we need to be still and let Him groom us so we can be bearers of his frangrance. Otherwise we are carriers of our own offenses and make a mess everywhere we go and offend others.
Thanks for the great reminder.