I have never trained a dog before. I watched videos and they make it look so easy. Yet, most of the time, I feel that LuckyGirl is training me rather than the other way around. In the house, she does very well (except for knocking over my plants when we leave her home alone).

I see people walking and their dogs are walking along side so nicely. Lucky does this sometimes, but often there are so many smells, birds, rabbits, deer that are much more interesting than walking nicely on the leash. I have tried to teach her to come, and again, when we are inside, she comes quickly but, outside… hmm, now that’s a different story. At times, she thinks that I am fun enough to quickly come running. At others, she looks at me and then decides that whatever she is doing is much more important.

I am thankful that we serve a God that meets us where we are at and uses whatever means to draw us to Himself. Since I have been trying to train LuckyGirl (we have just started calling her “Lucky”), I have felt God teaching me in numerous ways.

When she pulls and wants to go her own way – ways that could lead to her harm. I pull her back to keep her safe. How often do I want to go MY own way and the Lord pulls me back for my own good through His Word?

In the morning, she will snuggle up to me and cuddle and is so sweet but then, she’ll get into my plants or something else. Just wanting to do “her own thing”. Am I not the same? In the morning, doing devotions, I seem so sweet before the Lord, yet moment by moment it is a constant struggle between living by my natural fleshly self or living and abiding in His Spirit.

Just as Lucky is distracted by the big world of outside, I too get distracted by clinging to this world. Things that don’t matter. I too, sometimes am so taken by God that I feel close and other times, just like Lucky, I think what I am doing is more important than what He has instructed.

Essentially, I was formed by my Creator, so was Lucky. He has asked us to care for the earth and the animals. I want my life to glorify God and I am thankful that He has orchestrated my getting of this LuckyGirl to not only save her life, but also that He can teach me through her.

I am truly thankful for Him in my life. That is why we are all the “Lucky Ones”!