What Did You Do?

The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.

BILLY COULDN’T WAIT for his grandparents to meet his newest dog, a reddish-brown hound mix he had named Red. Billy had seen the stray from time to time in their 1950s rural Kentucky neighborhood. But once Red wandered into nine-year-old Billy’s yard, the hound dog had stayed close to his adopted home and his adopted boy.

On the day the family was getting ready to visit Billy’s grandparents who lived an hour away, Billy’s dad said, “Red’s not coming.”

Billy couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“But Red’s gonna be so lonely all by himself.”

“He managed just fine before finding you,” Billy’s dad reminded his son.

“Mama?” Billy whined, turning the full force of his pleading blue eyes on his softhearted mother. “You would never leave one of your kids behind, right? Red is my responsibility, and I need to take care of him.”

Billy squeezed out some tears to seal the deal, and his parents relented. Red could join the family on their overnight visit.

When they arrived, Red bounded out of the car and headed toward the creek. Billy started to chase after the dog, but his dad pulled him back.

“First, you say hello to your grandparents. That dog can fend for himself for a bit,” he said.

Billy greeted his grandparents with a hug and politely listened to the grown-ups discuss boring things like crops, relatives’ illnesses, and taxes. After a while, Billy asked to be excused.

He snuck a piece of bread from the kitchen on his way out.

“Red! Come here, boy,” he yelled. “Where are ya?”

A moment later Billy heard a ruckus coming from a neighboring farm—chickens were squawking and screaming. Then he heard the neighbor, Mr. Groon, shouting. Just as Billy started back to the house, Red sprinted toward him—yellow ooze dripping from his mouth.

“There you are!” Billy said, intercepting his dog. “Whatcha been doin’? And what’s on your face?”

Just then, the back door of his grandparents’ house slammed.

“Billy!” his dad bellowed.

“Uh-oh. You’d better stay here,” Billy told Red.

Red dropped to the ground in a perfect down-stay and didn’t move a muscle.

“That dog of yours broke into Mr. Groon’s chicken coop and grabbed about a dozen eggs,” Billy’s dad said. “You need to keep that dog outta there, you hear?”

“Yes, sir,” Billy replied.

That night Billy gave his dog an extra bowl of kibble and a piece of pecan pie, hoping to dissuade him from another egg heist.

But Red had tasted the forbidden yolk and wanted more.

Later that night Billy was awakened to a cacophony of sounds: terrified chickens, barking dogs, shouting people, and a braying donkey.

Suddenly, Red was at the back door, the evidence of his guilt all over his jowls.

Billy’s heart raced when he heard Mr. Groon’s voice boom, “I’ve got a shotgun, and I’m not afraid to use it!”

Billy looked sheepishly at his parents who had woken up and stumbled out of the guest room. Granddad handed Billy a long rope, and he went outside to secure his thieving dog to a nearby tree. Billy was relieved they were leaving in the morning.

Billy knew the hound couldn’t be trusted to behave at his grandparents’, so he never asked if Red could come with them again. He just made sure Red was cared for when they went.

It turns out Billy’s dad was right. Red did just fine without Billy for a couple of days. But he was always glad when Billy came home.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

In what ways can greed stir up conflict? What kinds of conflict have you experienced because you were greedy? In what ways does trusting the Lord help us prosper? Do you think this refers only to monetary prosperity? How have you prospered by trusting the Lord?

Paws & Pray

Lord, you are my greatest reward. Help me to trust you more each day. Forgive me for the times I’m greedy and not content with what I have. Enable me to see and value the gifts and blessings you have given me, and stir my heart to want to share those with others.