I am eating an ice cream popsicle – vanilla dipped in chocolate. It would be a perfect gastronomic treat except my dog is sitting in front of me just staring with the most soulful eyes. Ever so carefully she watches every bite. There is a string of drool spilling out of the left side of her mouth. The tip of her red tongue barely protrudes from her black lab mouth. She is beautiful and pathetic. I am awash with guilt. How can I continue to do this? So I eat off the chocolate shell, since that is poison for her, and yield the vanilla ice cream. I must say she is a lady. Ever so delicately she cleans off the stick without once biting it. I feel good.
Whether it is my dog or a child or one of my students I have to say it feels so good to share. Since we were made in God’s image I believe we can safely assume He loves to share. Paul says in Ephesians 2 that God plans to shower gifts upon us throughout eternity. We will have no end of resources that we too can shower gifts on all we meet. One of my students once asked me why God made us. My answer was that it made Him feel good. When He pronounced at the end of creation week, “That is very good” it had to feel good.
One very big difference between God and us and me and my dog is my dog gets the remnants. God never gives us leftovers. Everything from His hand is first class, top of the line with all the bells and whistles. We don’t even have to stare with soulful eyes. No drool from the side of our mouths. How grand!
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 4, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org