Cody On The Go

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

MELISSA’S PHONE BUZZED in her pocket.

“Running ten minutes late,” the text from her neighbor Tish read. “Sorry.”

Melissa slipped the phone back into her pocket and looked at her silver Lab’s expectant expression.

“Sorry, Cody,” she said, adjusting the leash that had gotten stuck under his back leg, “Gizmo’s running a little late for our walk.”

Cody, anxious to get moving, pulled on the leash.

“Okay, boy, I hear ya,” she said. “We can walk for a bit while we wait for them.”

Normally, Melissa and Tish kept a quick walking pace in the morning in order to get their active dogs as tired as possible before leaving them for the day. However, as Melissa waited for her friend and neighbor of seven years, she allowed Cody to set the pace. Melissa held the leash loosely in her hand and simply followed where he led. Cody was clearly thrilled with his freedom and investigated everything in sight. He sniffed bushes; he wandered into a clearing overlooking the creek that ran under the road. He discovered a turtle and attempted to play with it—until the odd-looking beast with the long leathery neck poked its head out of its shell.

Cody yelped in terror.

Melissa chuckled as she pulled him to safety on the other side of the road.

Cody recovered quickly from his fright and resumed his leisurely walk-and-sniff. Melissa enjoyed watching him explore. She laughed at his escapades and smiled at his discoveries. She even snapped a picture of Cody creeping back toward the turtle near the creek. But when the turtle’s head emerged from its shell again, Cody dashed back to the road.

“No, Cody!” Melissa shouted, tightening up on the leash and pulling him back just as a car went by.

After redirecting him to another open area, Melissa again relaxed her hold on the leash.

Once again free to explore, Cody sniffed dandelions and pawed at a rock. But as he headed for a mud puddle, Melissa gave a quick tug on his leash.

“No, Cody!” she commanded.

The dog looked at her, then strained against the leash, wanting desperately to get to the enticing mud. Knowing how much he hated baths, Melissa pulled him back.

“Trust me, Codes,” she said, urging him back to her side. “You aren’t gonna like where that mud leads.”

She clicked her tongue and started dragging an insistent and disgruntled Cody back toward Gizmo’s house. He barked his displeasure and he thrashed his head, trying to break free. Melissa was grateful for the new, more secure harness he now wore. Several weeks earlier he had wiggled out of the collar and chased a squirrel for half a block. Cody was lovable and playful, but he was also headstrong and opinionated.

“Come on, boy,” Melissa panted. “Let’s go find Gizmo.”

Cody stopped mid-tug. The mud was immediately forgotten when Cody heard the name Gizmo, and he eagerly pulled Melissa toward his beagle friend’s house.

As Melissa followed her spirited dog, she realized how much she was just like her dog. God gave her so much freedom. And surely he delighted in watching her experience every blessing he had given her. Yet how many times had she pulled against his plans for her? How much trouble could she have avoided if she had heeded his warning? And how many messes did she create by insisting on going her own way?

She drew Cody to her side, kneeling to hug him close.

Whispering a prayer of repentance and thanksgiving, Melissa planted a kiss on Cody’s head.

A slobbery kiss across her face ended her prayer. As she stood, she caught a glimpse of Gizmo and Tish heading their way.

“I see Gizmo!” she told her panting Lab.

And with those words Cody was off—with Melissa sprinting right behind.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

We have great freedom in Christ, and yet, in his love, he has set boundaries for us—to protect us and spare us from unnecessary pain. How often do you try to push past divine boundaries, insisting you know better? What mud puddle are you heading toward today? What might happen if you insist on going your own way? Are you willing to trust God and walk back to him?

Paws & Pray

Lord, so often I think I know better than you. I strive to go my own way and pull away from you. Father, forgive me and draw me back to you. Help me to trust your plan more than my own. And give me courage to walk away from the mud puddles of this life and walk on clear paths with you.

The hope of the righteous brings joy.