As we grow older, I am learning that Molly is a walking book on “dog psychology”, written in dog language! The more we live together, the less I understand her.

I recently had Covid, again, which pushed me into bouts of coughing so violent that I thought I would surely burst something. Whether Molly thought I was “barking” at her or not, I don’t know, but she distanced herself from me, mostly tail down, and became almost a recluse. In response to this “threat” she refused to eat, drink, even go to the toilet unless it was desperately urgent. Her usual requests for me to pick her up and put her on my chair with me faded away. She spent most of her days isolating herself on her bed in the bedroom.

Now that I have recovered, few of her old habits and gestures of affection have returned. She sometimes behaves as though I am her enemy.

Now, Molly has many physical challenges, mostly the result of her allergy to grass…and wheat…and her sensitivity to some foods. I try to do the best I can for her, take her to the vet when necessary, (which she hates), carefully monitor what I feed her, (which means no more “human” treats), and treat her ailments with sprays, creams and lotions, which she mostly tolerates.

Medication, for Molly, is an intolerable no-no. I have to fool her in the most ingenious ways to get anything she needs to help her down her throat without force. Sometimes, she see through my schemes, digs in her heels and turns her head away in disdain.

We are now at the point where she prefers to sleep on my dirty laundry in the kitchen, waiting to go into the washing machine, than in my bed!

The sum total is, the more I try to help her overcome her problems, the more suspicious she becomes of me. She does not appreciate the value of “tough love”.

Now, I know that Molly’s reactions have to do with her “dog-ness” and her limited understanding of my ways. The best I can do is reassure her of my love and and try to show her that I love her in the ways I treat her.

Molly reminds me so much of myself and my old attitudes to God. How often in the past I have turned away, thinking that God has failed me instead of trusting His love, no matter what.

Jeremiah almost lost his prophetic calling because of the same attitude. Despite his faithfulness to deliver God’s Word to his people, and God’s promise to protect him, the people hated and persecuted him, and refused to believe his warnings. He suffered all kinds of torments at their hands.

Jeremiah complained to the Lord that His promise of protection was like a dried-up water source.

Jeremiah 15:15-18 NLT
[15] Then I said, “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors! Please give me time; don’t let me die young. It’s for your sake that I am suffering. [16] When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. [17] I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins. [18] Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”

God responded with sobering words.

Jeremiah 15:19 NLT
[19] “This is how the Lord responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!”

In fact, God was saying to Jeremiah, “If you don’t take back your words, you can no longer be my prophet!”

That’s drastic!

How can I make Molly understand that I love her enough to treat her in ways that seem cruel to her? I must apply medication, like cold sprays or creams to her skin to relieve her itch; I must get medicine down her throat to treat her ailments; I must take her to the vet for help…all things she hates but are for her good. Somehow, I must keep her trust so that she understands that I love her, but how? She can’t see the bigger picture. She interprets my help as “harm”.

Despite my reassurances of love, she is suspicious of me and withdraws.

As a human, I have a greater capacity to understand God’s ways than Molly does mine. His Word constantly reminds and assures me that His love underpins all He does.
Nothing in heaven or on earth can ever separate me from that love.

Romans 8:35 NLT
[35] “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?”

It’s the love of God in all its length, breadth, depth, and height that prompts Him to persevere with His plan to recreate in me the image of His Son, despite the cost to me in pain and suffering. The rewards are out if this world!

I have no such lofty designs for Molly, but I do want her to have the happiest and most comfortable life possible while we are together. It’s up to her to respond to my love for her or not.

Why don’t I, then trust God’s love for me in all His dealings because He has already shown me the bigger picture in His Word?

I thinks it’s embedded deep in our old human nature not to trust God. It’s the old enmity just under the surface. Only His persistent grace and unfailing love will convince us and lead us to trust Him no matter what, even when He has to “treat” us with various remedies for our sin.

So, though I can’t change Molly’s reservations because she is canine and I am human, I can respond to God’s love because He made me in His image. The more I choose to trust Him despite appearances, the more real His love becomes to me.

What an honour to be a child of God!