Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
How many times have I known a truth yet did not realize it. To know it is rote, but to realize it is when understanding comes.
This truth applies to all of us. I have observed this truth over the years. If it did not apply to all of us, somehone or some people out there know all the truth, and we all know this is not so.
When the understanding comes, it is as though we notice the Good Shepherd has used His rod or His staff to redirect us.
Does that sound harsh?
Sometimes my dog knows more than I. Why? There are times I need to redirect my dog, teach her, train her that is. At first I would raise my foot as a threatening gesture, and at first she would shy away. But as she came to know me better, now when I raise my foot she comes up and nuzzles her head to it. She knows I will not actually hurt her.
The same holds true with a neighborhood stray cat. I feed her so she always comes areound. When I am sweeping around the house and she comes in and does something I do not want here to do, like eyeball a saping to claw at it, I raise my broom to her. Well she has taken to nuzzling up to the broom, so now she follows me around when I am sweeping, and rolls around in front of of me, so what do you think I do? I sweep her, top underside and sides, and she even sticks her head out so I can groom her head with it. For her it is like a visit to the beauty parlour.
So my pets have taught me that when the Lord needs to use His rod and His staff wit me, I may do the same, embrace both and adore the Good Shepherd. Wow! He is great, amen.
How many times have I known a truth yet did not realize it. To know it is rote, but to realize it is when understanding comes.
This truth applies to all of us. I have observed this truth over the years. If it did not apply to all of us, somehone or some people out there know all the truth, and we all know this is not so.
When the understanding comes, it is as though we notice the Good Shepherd has used His rod or His staff to redirect us.
Does that sound harsh?
Sometimes my dog knows more than I. Why? There are times I need to redirect my dog, teach her, train her that is. At first I would raise my foot as a threatening gesture, and at first she would shy away. But as she came to know me better, now when I raise my foot she comes up and nuzzles her head to it. She knows I will not actually hurt her.
The same holds true with a neighborhood stray cat. I feed her so she always comes areound. When I am sweeping around the house and she comes in and does something I do not want here to do, like eyeball a saping to claw at it, I raise my broom to her. Well she has taken to nuzzling up to the broom, so now she follows me around when I am sweeping, and rolls around in front of of me, so what do you think I do? I sweep her, top underside and sides, and she even sticks her head out so I can groom her head with it. For her it is like a visit to the beauty parlour.
So my pets have taught me that when the Lord needs to use His rod and His staff wit me, I may do the same, embrace both and adore the Good Shepherd. Wow! He is great, amen.
