The Tummy Timer

The Tummy Timer

For everything there is a season,a time for every activity under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

My little blond Shih Tzu, Jazz, has an automatic tummy timer. You can literally set your clock by him. At 8:00 a.m. he sticks his nose in my ear to wake me up. He is hungry! Then he runs around in circles growling and woofing in anticipation while I put on my robe.

After breakfast, Jazz spends most of the day in my office, sleeping in a chair until 5:00 p.m. sharp—unless he detects someone at the front door and feels compelled to act as my noisy, furry doorbell.

I do not have to worry about losing track of the time, because at straight-up 5:00, Jazz starts whining and barking for his dinner. If I do not move quite as fast as he wants, he puts his front paws on my leg, nuzzles my arm, and looks at me with his can’t-you-see-I’m-dying-of-starvation eyes. So I finally give in and fix his meal. (Jazz knows I will, of course; he has me very well trained, which gives a whole new meaning to the phrase dog obedience school.)

Promptly at 9:00 p.m. he wakes up out of a dead sleep, stretches as only a dog can, and starts the whining-and-barking routine again. It is time for treats! It is absolutely uncanny how he knows what time it is, even when he is asleep.

Most people worry about their electricity going off in the middle of the night and their alarm clocks not working. I never have to worry about that—I have Jazz and his ever-accurate tummy timer!

On this earth, we have only a limited time to live and enjoy God’s world. Like Jazz, we should concentrate on the best parts of life.

Thank you, Lord, for the time we have to spend with you. Help me to use it well to study your Word, sing your praises, and share the good news about you with others. Amen.