Putting Her Foot Down

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

FOR EIGHT YEARS, GRETCHEN, a miniature smooth-haired black and brown dachshund, enjoyed her status as the sole animal in her family’s household. With two adults and seven children, she always had someone giving her attention, playing with her, and accompanying her on outdoor adventures across acres of rural Colorado property.

However, one day things changed dramatically. Everything started out normally until a truck with a large trailer backed into the driveway. The kids seemed excited about something. And then a ramp came down behind the trailer and the door opened. Gretchen took a few steps back as the largest animal she had ever seen was coaxed out.

“It’s okay, Gretchen,” one of the kids assured her. “It’s a gentle quarter horse.” But all the dachshund saw was a creature that towered over her, smelled different, and made funny noises. Who invited this interloper to live with them?

She barked her displeasure loudly.

“Gretchen, quiet! You’ll spook him.”

The small dog had other plans.

For weeks, she grabbed every opportunity to bark at the horse, prowled around him while he ate, stole his treats, nipped at his hooves, and occasionally rolled in his manure.

“Eww, Gretchen! You stink. Stay away from the manure piles.”

No one but Gretchen understood the reasoning behind her behavior. She didn’t care that her family wasn’t pleased with her. She had a message to communicate.

After several months, Gretchen finally settled down. Clearly the horse was staying, but Gretchen seemed to feel that the horse now understood where he stood on the hierarchy of her humans’ affections—at the bottom.

Gretchen was once again enjoying her queen bee status on the couch in the house when she heard another truck with a trailer backing up in the driveway. She sprang to her feet and rushed to the window, just in time to see an even larger interloper emerging from the trailer.

No!

When one of the kids opened the back door, Gretchen raced out, straight to the pasture. Now there were two tall-legged, attention-stealing intruders inside the fence. Gretchen gave them a piece of her mind.

“Be nice, Gretchen,” the oldest boy warned her.

Gretchen barked louder. She crouched as if preparing to pounce on the new horse. And then she ran under the fence railing into the pasture where her barking, stalking, nipping, treat stealing, and manure-rolling antics began again.

Several weeks later, the teenage brothers were busy building a hay shed under Gretchen’s watchful eye. Things seemed to be progressing well, so she made her way to the pasture to remind the horses who was boss.

Suddenly, there was a terrifying sound—half squeal, half cry. The five brothers stopped nailing shingles on the roof of the shed and looked toward the pasture.

The Arabian mare was standing in front of the hay box, with her front hoof on Gretchen’s back.

The little dachshund was sprawled out with her belly flat against the ground. The mare slowly turned her head toward the dog. No one moved.

“Is Gretchen dead?” one brother whispered.

They each feared the answer.

But then, the mare lifted her hoof and Gretchen shot up like a rocket before bolting out of the corral as fast as she could.

The perceptive horse had decided to put her foot—or rather her hoof—down on Gretchen’s bully-like behavior. Not to crush her, or to hurt her in the slightest bit, but to calmly and powerfully communicate that it was time for her to stop.

After that day, Gretchen decided the horses could have the pasture. She would be content to enjoy her own privileges of being allowed in a warm house, sleeping in her people’s laps, and held closely in their hearts.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

What are some ways you have seen pride bring a person low? Conversely, can you think of an example of how someone has received honor as a result of their humility? What are some areas of your life in which you struggle with pride? Confess them to the Lord, and ask him to give you a heart of humility and compassion for others.

Paws & Pray

Lord, I often think of myself far more than I think of others. Please be quick to convict me of my prideful thoughts and replace them with your thoughts. Lord, help me to follow your example of humility and compassion.