Bean the Dog

Bean in his favorite spot

It was a rainy week when Bean, our dog and I, went for a walk. We came to a patch of mud. In the worst way Bean wanted to roll in it. As soon as he went for it I picked him up and said, “No.” This wasn’t enough to convince him. He headed right for the mud a second time. Again, I picked him up and said, “No!” The moment I put him down, he began to pull me all the way home. I had to run to keep up.

Bean like a blur pulling me home

Bean was having a temper tantrum. He didn’t get his way one way so he got it another. I should have stopped him from pulling me home. I gave into him without realizing it.

We’ve had other pets. But it never occurred to me how self-centered they can be. Bean gets his way by barking, howling, nudging, whining, whimpering, growling and begging. My husband calls it “The world according to Bean.” When his food bowl is empty he carries it to one of us to fill it. Cute, isn’t it?

I never made the connection between human sin and animal selfishness until Bean came into my life. When Adam fell the whole world fell with him – each person, all nature and every animal:

Each Person –> Romans 5:12 tells how sin came to others because Adam sinned.

All Nature –> Romans 8:18-22 speaks of nature waiting to be released from its bondage, once God’s glory is revealed and the children of God are set free.

Every Animal –> Isaiah 11:6-9 declares how life will be when righteousness reigns.

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and the little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.”
Isaiah 11:6-9 ESV

Be Ye Glad!

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Lena Rae
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