God Notions

Titus 3:4-7

 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

The first time we met I was in my car getting ready to shut the door when a white-faced, pink-nosed wiggling body that could not stop wagging if it truly wanted to, jumped up to beg a ride. She was wearing a pink bow attached to her pink collar and leash. She was so happy to see me with her snorting and slobbering and her excessive kisses, I could not help but fall in love with her. She is an English bulldog named Penelope. She is my new neighbor, along with her owners Sheri and Peter.

One rainy day I had stopped by to chat with Sheri and enjoy a cup of coffee. Sheri’s home is beautiful. Decorated in white and soft grays, overstuffed chairs and thick, thick, thick, sink down into, you can’t find the bottom, white carpet. You feel like you have stepped into a magazine cover. We sat talking about the rain and what’s for dinner when I heard this pawing at the door. There was Penelope, wanting so badly to come in and be with us. She barked, whimpered, and wagged, but there was no way she was coming in from being outside. Penelope’s feet and underside were covered in mud.

As Penelope begged to be allowed into our fellowship, our conversation turned to how much Sheri and Peter loved her and how sweet she was. Penelope had full access to the whole house, but this was a bit of a quandary. There at the door was a muddy white dog wanting access to the beautiful white carpet and couch. It looked like Penelope was going to have to spend the night on the screened-in porch. But then Sheri excused herself. She came back with two huge white fluffy towels. They had to be good ones, I thought. She went to the door, wrapped that wiggling muddy mess of a dog in a pristine white towel, and carried her to the sink where she washed her clean. Sheri then took the other towel and dried Penelope, all the while being licked and loved by a grateful puppy.

When all was done Penelope came running into the beautiful magazine room with the white thick carpet and the overstuffed chairs. She jumped onto the white couch and greeted me with snorts and kisses. It was a joyous occasion. Penelope had been restored. Penelope had full reign of the master’s house once more.

I went home happy thinking of the love I had just witnessed, and then I realized…

Isn’t that what Jesus has done for us!?!