Be More Like Your Dog

Sometimes it is hard to express our emotions in words. Take the word love, for instance. We use it in many ways – I love food, I love this weather, I love you, I love that color, etc. Typically, we use the word love to mean that we have an intense like of something or someone. Sometimes I think we use the word love without really thinking about it. 

However, in the Greek language, there are different words to express different types of love. Eros is used to describe the love between a man and a woman, a physical passion. Storge is the love between kin, such as a mother and child, or a brother and sister. Phileo expresses warm affections, the love we have for a friend. And then there is Agape love, the type of love that doesn't depend on our emotions, an unconditional love. 

Can you think of examples of each of these types of love? One of the things that comes to mind is the love our pets have for us. I think this can be defined as agape love. If we feed them late, or scold them, or not give them that scrap of meat they want, it doesn't matter. They still love us. They know that we will take care of there needs. Our pets don't worry about if they will have food, they know we will feed them. They miss us when we are not present. Think about how excited your dog gets when you come home from work. They jump, run in circles, and do whatever it takes to express their joy and get your attention. They aren't mad and sulky because you weren't there, they just know they are glad you are with them. 

This is exactly how our love relationship with God should be. After all, the Bible tells us not to worry, God knows what we need and will supply it. Perhaps He won't give us all our “wants” but He always gives us our “needs”. Just like our pet, they may not get that scrap but they will get food. 

Have you ever gotten upset with God? I have. But that doesn't mean He loves you any less, even if you walk away from Him. He will look for you and tug at your heart until you return to Him. Again, just like when we leave our beloved pet and rush off to work. They may sulk after we leave but they rejoice upon our return. 

Perhaps God gave us pets so we can relate to how He loves us. When we come to truly understand that He loves us that much, with that agape love, it will begin to overflow to those around us. And that, my friend, is what God desires.