My brother, Gary, now deceased, once told me that “if you can’t raise dogs, don’t have children” At the time, I wanted children very badly. I thought this was a harsh thing for a parent to say, but after observing my dogs over the years, I have come to understand the wisdom of his words. Expressions of Love are just that. I love my dog so I pat his head or rub his tummy.He loves me back by staring into my eyes adoringly  and licking my hands and face  When I yell at him, the hurt in his eyes pierces my soul and my heart melts
I then gather him into my arms, and  reassure him that my love is true. Days go by and I don’t play with him, but every single day when I come home he is waiting anxiously at the gate for my car to pull in
the driveway. Many days I walk in without acknowledging him, he hangs his head and walks
away. If I throw his food out on the deck, he wags his tail, so appreciative of every little thing I do.
Jax, my dog, loves me with the selfless, abiding kind of love described in Corinthians. He has no agenda other than his dependency on my love. I left the gate open once so he would run away - but he wouldn’t leave. He trusts me to come home and I trust him to be there. He is patient and forgiving of my moods and faults and I forgive him for notbeing a rotweiler (smile) . Jax  is always on my mind. God used my dogs to teach me about the loyalty and faithfulness of His Love . He taught me that this is how I am to Love my mate and how my mate is to love me - with the deep and abiding kind of love that is born out of my spirit.
No agenda - Just Pure Love .
Then I began to watch the children in my life. How they need, demand and expect to be loved as their right. As they grow, I observe and appreciate their need for independence (with guided instruction) .
The way they need to express themselves - their individuality. And I learned to be forgiving. I learned to look past their faults and be patient. Instead, I look into their eyes and see the purity of their hearts, the innocence of motive - no agenda. I learned that children need attention. They need to be talked to, heard,
held, nurtured  and appreciated.  Then I heard Jesus say, “Unless you become as one of these, you will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven” then “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” He told me that this is how I am to respond to His Love and the love of my mate. Our father says in Mathew 21:26-28 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to
become great among you must be your servant-and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (No greater love hath a man than this!)  The Lord showed me the kind of love he honors, the level of committment He blesses. The marriage unions that are truly God created and ordained.

 Until He taught me this, I drifted, I settled and was forever unsatisfied.   (I was blind, but now I see)

Today, I don’t expect a cat to bark like a dog. I don’t expect a mule to ride like a stallion (smile).  Though I can appreciate a cat for what a cat is and the mule for his usefulness and treat them both accordingly. I still need my Stallion. But not just any stallion. This stallion has to be the right height, or I can’t get on. He has to have the strength to carry me, soI don’t fall. He has to have a sense of direction to take me where I need to go and he must understand his purpose as a Stallion.  Since only God can
make a stallion suitable for me. I have waited for my BlackStallion - while
God taught me to ride.Finally, Jesus warned me in Mathew 19:11 “Not everyone can accept this word,
but only those to whom it has been given; For some are enuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

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