It was so beautiful outside today that I decided to start walking with my puppy Caesar every morning! We went on our first walk today! It was so amazingly breath taking outside! We started our walk off trailing down the lane I live on when I noticed something that Caesar did. As we walked he would go a little ahead of me and then he would slow down, look back at me, and eventually resume his strut. At first I thought nothing of it, but then he continued to do this "ritual" every couple struts. Odd, I thought. We continued our walk down to the river and sat there for a while. There is an old main road in Lowellville (above) that looks so dead but has so much life! People drive these streets not realizing the history that comes with the pavement they travel. Lowellville was birthed with this street. Hmmm...so me and Caesar just sat there captivated by the history of one road. As I was drowning in the history of this beautiful road, I began to think back to Caesars ritual. Who knew a little puppy could teach me so much! So here it goes:
We are all traveling down this road called life. Many of us choose to travel this road led by God and some of us choose to take some time to travel alone. Either way, have you ever noticed how often we "look back" for security? When Caesar kept looking back at me, at first I did not think much of it but then I realized he was looking back at me for security. He wanted to make sure I was still there, walking beside him or behind him. That his MASTER was still holding him attached to a leash he held his security in. We often find ourselves checking back on life making sure we are taking the right steps and going the right direction. But how often do we look back to our MASTER to make sure He is walking with us and holding tight to us? Not often enough, I suppose. We get so caught up in the scenery of the road sometimes we lose the "leash" from our Master. We begin to take advantage of the "leeway" He so graciously offers us and trail off on our own, at our OWN pace. Yet, we always find ourselves checking back at Him!
So here's a thought, why not just walk at HIS pace and in HIS timing in the first place! Then, we wouldn't have to hurt our neck so much always checking back. Just take steps WITH Him, not AHEAD of Him. Walk NEXT to Him, not in FRONT of Him. Let Him LEAD, and you FOLLOW. If we let Him be leader and first, we would prevent so much suffering and pain for ourselves!
Isaiah 42:16
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."
He promises to never forsake us! He promises to LEAD and GUIDE us! He takes care of our roads and makes them smooth and clear! It's all written! So lets just trust because we all know that we are to trust Him (proverbs 3:5-6) and we all know He knows everything to come! (Jeremiah 29:11)
As the walk continued, Caesar eventually grew more secure and eventually was able to take the lead for a while. Which is exactly what God does with us! Once we get the hang of things and become secure in Him, He lets us take control for a while and He sits back and enjoys the scenery we choose!
So let Him lead you and just enjoy the walk growing in Him until you are completely secure to take the lead for a couple struts! Get out of the "ritual" of turning around and just walk next to Him, it will be less painful! Trust me!
My lovely puppy "Lil Caesar" and I! Such a small puppy with so much to teach!! :)
