Country Dog

There is a stark difference between a city dog and a country dog. I’m reminded of this on most walks around my neighborhood. There are a few dogs Bethany and I encounter that want to escape their fence so bad. They bark incessantly and claw at the dirt looking for freedom. If you take a country stroll you may notice a different canine phenomenon. Country dogs have the freedom to roam and yet you’ll often find the country dog happy and content resting lazily on the porch.

My mother has two country dogs, Buddy and Coco. One is a lab and one is a Catahoula Cur. They can move and perform if need be. But a fence isn’t necessary to contain my mother’s dogs.Those dogs don’t want to go anywhere. Why? My mother cooks them bacon and eggs for breakfast each morning. I’m not exaggerating. I find myself coveting (forgive me Lord) the life that Buddy and Coco enjoy. It’s a good life! Those dogs don’t want to go anywhere because they know where their bread is buttered (I think they literally get that too sometimes!) 

With Mother’s Day approaching, I’ve been pondering a mother’s love. I have one sister still living at home and she receives that extra special affection of a mother’s love even more than Buddy and Coco. There’s just something about a mother that reflects the heart of God in a unique way. Sin can distort any relationship, but mothers are most often unique in their relentless love for those under their care. My mother loves her dogs and demonstrates that love through her care and provision. 

This Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37

Jesus is reflecting the heart of God to gather His people like a hen who cares and protects her chicks. Those chicks want to stay close to their mother just like Buddy and Coco. They intuitively know that the world beyond the porch isn’t nearly as good as life on the porch. They want to be as close to their mother as possible. 

The heart of God is reflected through our mothers. We have a God who cares for us abundantly and longs to gather us under His wing. It’s in His presence that our souls are cured. There is a lesson to be learned in the life of a country dog. The country dog has been set free, but they want to be in the presence of the one who loves and cares for them. There is no need for boundaries or rules because the dog is receiving the desires of their heart. They don’t want to wander. 

I’m reminded of another story in which a woman who wasn’t a part of the religious club reminded Jesus that even dogs eat the crumbs from the table. She had faith in receiving just a morsel. Jesus responded to her request affirmingly. (Matt. 15:27-28)

This Mother’s Day, I hope you’ll reflect on a mother’s love. Bacon and eggs are a tangible expression of love, but it is a morsel in comparison to God’s love for us. We have been set free to delight in God’s presence and enjoy life eternally.