Throughout the Bible, God shares his wisdom through real-life stories and experiences. We can learn the same by looking at the world around us and asking God to give us wisdom. As I’m watching my puppy grow up and experience the world, I’m learning about the parallels about my faith in God. Keep reading for 5 things my puppy taught me about faith.

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I’ve never been your standard Christian. I have my own path and I respect everyone else’s. So yes, today, as weird as it may sound, I’m going to share the 5 things that my puppy has taught me about faith. Because I learn about God’s love and wisdom from the world around me. In addition to The Bible, of course. That goes without being said.

I waited until I was pushing 50 to get my first dog/puppy. Ever. We had been planning for 5 years and needed the time to be right to give our Pug Hannibal, our little love biscuit, all of the love and attention and care that he deserves. We’re closing in on being empty nesters and found a Christian breeder and it all came together in God’s perfect timing.

 

 

With age comes wisdom. Or at least I’m going with it. Watching a puppy learn about the world has been such a great experience. Seeing the world through his eyes brings back so many fond memories of watching my Stepson grow up and learn how things work. I didn’t realize I had that much more love in my heart to give.

Speaking of love, so let’s get into the 5 things that my puppy taught me about faith.

 

5 Things My Puppy Taught Me About Faith

 

1. Unconditional Love

Every time my puppy looks at me with those eyes, I am amazed at his unconditional love for me – and mine for him.

The way he greets me in the morning, my husband at the door. How he remembers the Grands and gets excited when he sees them even though it’s every few weeks. In fact, everyone he meets he wants to be best friends with. He greets everyone he sees with unbridled enthusiasm.

With all of that, how much more does our heavenly Father love us unconditionally and greet us with the same level of enthusiasm when we spend time with him.

Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ~ Matthew 6:26

 

 

2. Faith Will Help You Overcome

I picked my puppy up at 8 weeks straight from the breeder on the farm.  In one sense, he does not have any negative experiences to cloud him. In another sense, every single thing he does is new.

I watched him learn about the world around him. He was uncertain and even a little fearful about walking on different surfaces and climbing up and down the stairs. With a few treats and gentle steps and a little time, he managed to learn that the unknown isn’t so scary. He’s becoming a confidant and curious puppy with every little win.

Isn’t that exactly how God shows us how our faith works? We stare into the scary unknown and God gives us some treats (God Winks), is gentle with us, and gives us time. And when we learn to walk in faith, it’s a little bit easier to take those steps the next time.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ~ Romans 8:37

 

 

3. Play Dates Make the Best Days

Hannibal wishes he could have a play date every day. His face lights up when his friends come through the gate. They always have epic fun together and he doesn’t want them to leave at the end. Oh and PS – he is always so much more content and sleeps better after a play date.

We are wired to be social creatures and how much better is our day when we can connect with a fellow believer. Are you making the time and effort?

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ~ Acts 2:42

 

 

Psst… want beautiful prayers and scriptures to help balance your chakras? Click below…

 

 

4. Waiting is Difficult

It took a long time to teach Hannibal how to wait. It started with just a couple of seconds and now he can wait for over a minute for his food. Teaching him to wait has also helped him on his walks. We live in the burbs but the cars still speed down the street, which is especially scary for me because he is such a small pup and the cars would never see him. Hannibal has to stop and wait until I can see that there are no cars in sight before we cross the street together. Sometimes there are several cars and he has to wait longer than he wants. But it’s for his safety.

How many times in life do we want to just proceed forward with our plans without waiting for God to show us the way? Did you ever stop and think that waiting on the Lord is His way of keeping us safe? Even if it is difficult and it doesn’t seem like there are any answers in sight.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. ~ Psalm 25:4-5

 

 

5. When You Let Go Something Better is There

“Leave It” and “Drop It” are two of the most difficult commands to teach a puppy. IMHO. Hannibal wants to play and scratch and chew and put EVERYTHING in his mouth. Because that is what puppies are wired to do. They explore the world through their mouths and that is how they learn. But it’s also how they can get in trouble, get sick, or even die. We keep a close eye on Hannibal, and in the first couple of months, we never let him out of our sight. But puppies are sneaky and willful and it doesn’t help that pugs are small and he is so close to the ground. Some of the things I’ve caught in his mouth that he has had to “Leave It” or “Drop It” include – a straight razor blade, a match, a cigarette butt, mushrooms in the grass, and a broken ceramic tile. All of which would have caused him SERIOUS harm.

Back to the lesson on waiting. God knows the plans he has for us. And even if it doesn’t always feel like it, His plans are ALWAYS better than ours. It’s difficult for us to let go of what is comfortable and put our complete faith and trust in the Lord. But it’s ALWAYS for our good because He is our heavenly Father who protects us.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans. ~ Proverbs 16:3

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

 

You may have started the article with a wee bit of curiosity as to what my puppy has taught me about faith. The biggest lesson for me was to learn about waiting. What about you? Which one of these speaks the most to you?

Oh and PS – don’t forget to follow @HannibalPugClub on Insta!

 

 

Are you Inspired?

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Love, hugs, and learning every way that God is teaching me.

 

 

 

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