Molly is a dachshund. Dachshunds have allergies. Molly has allergies! Molly has ALLERGIES!!
For almost eight years, Molly and I have struggled to diagnose the cause of her allergies. Grass is definitely a cause because her low-slung “chassis” turns red and itchy when she walks in long grass.
Food allergies are a different story. I haven’t always given her food that’s good for her. Bad mother! So, now I have tried to eliminate what might set up violent reactions. Her latest manifestation is a growly wheeze, eminating from somewhere inside her nose-chest area. True to Murphy’s law, she wheezes at home but not at the vetinerary clinic. I’m on my own as far as diagnosis is concerned.
Molly has had numerous courses of cortisone with temporary relief, and a cortisone spray to apply to her itch, but all temporary. I longed for a permanent solution.
I have tried different vet-researched, vet-expert, vet-wise, vet-created kibble, fortified with every essential vitamin and mineral you can think of, bulked up with grains like maize and wheat (that dogs should never eat), but she still kept wheezing.
So, now what! Molly must eat, but what must she eat to fuel her long body without setting it on fire?
In desperation, I kept calling on the name of the Lord. After exhausting all my options, a simple solution
eventually came to mind… honest-to goodness, home-cooked veg and meat. I tried my fussy-eater dog with a layer of veg and meat on her kibble. She hoovered it up like a vacuum cleaner!
So now, Molly eats real food! Not a factory-produced imitation of food that probably tastes like sawdust. Chicken, chicken liver, ground beef, white fish, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, green beans, even raw carrots…all look and taste like the real thing. And the wheeze? Almost gone!
Molly’s problem reminds me of my own Christian life. As a young believer, I feasted on every Christian book I could find. Biographies, autobiographies, theology, “how-to” books, all went into my spiritual digestive system indescriminately, setting up “allergic” reactions in my spirit.
In my eagerness to love the Lord and walk in the truth, I tried to apply many of the conflicting ideas I ingested from the man-made “kibble” I was eating.
Gradually, as I have grown in age and experience, I have come to realise that, despite the limited value of people’s research and expertise, there is only one spiritual diet that feeds the soul with honest-to-goodness, veg-and-meat nourishment, the word of God. The Bible even describes itself as bread, milk, and solid food.
John 6:33, 35 NLT
[33] “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”…
[35] Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
1 Peter 2:2 NLT
[2] “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment…”
Hebrews 5:14 NLT
[14] “Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
God’s Word is the only spiritual food that provides complete, all-round, spiritual nourishment, with every vitamin and mineral we need to keep us healthy and strong without provoking allergic reactions. Man-made “kibble” may have a limited benefit but it is laced with indigestible human ideas and opinions detrimental to our spiritual well-being.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
[16]”All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
There we have it, the label of ingredients guaranteeing spiritual health in God’s provision!
Matthew 4:4 NLT
[4″But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
A dear old saint of God, known as Bernard of Clairvaux, captured this truth in these immortal words…
- Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts,
Thou fount of life, Thou light of men,
from the best bliss that earth imparts,
we turn unfilled to Thee again. - Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on Thee call;
to them that seek Thee, Thou art good,
to them that find Thee all in all. - We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread,
and long to feast upon Thee still;
we drink of Thee, the Fountain-head,
and thirst our souls from Thee to fill. - Our restless spirits yearn for Thee,
where’er our changeful lot is cast;
glad when Thy gracious smile we see,
blest when our faith can hold Thee fast. - O Jesus, ever with us stay,
make all our moments calm and bright;
chase the dark night of sin away;
shed o’er the world Thy holy light.
(Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #384
Author: Bernard of Clairvaux 1091-1153)