Unmerited Blame...sort of

The problem with being guilty most of the time means people assume you are guilty all the time. Following this principle, I have unjustly maligned my dog. He did not technically "escape" from the backyard while we were out of town. I found out someone had left the gate open. He just walked out with an open invitation to sin.

Now it is true that the good dog, Honeybun, did not leave the back yard, despite the wide open gate. Honeybun, who had been rescued from starvation and homelessness was taking no chances on being booted from this haven she has found. Lucky doesn't know how good he has it. He is willing to chance our ire because the grass always looks greener to him when it is not the grass we have told him he is allowed to roll in.

Root causes of behavior are important to examine here, because there is a stark contrast in the behavior of our dogs, raised by the same inept family. One dog seems to have no desire to please us, is forever chewing things he shouldn't, barking when he shouldn't, climbing over or under fences he shouldn't, and tugging on leashes and dislocating arms when he shouldn't. The other dog wants nothing more than to make our lives as pleasant as possible and will do everything within the capacity of a dog without a credit card to bring that about.  I think the underlying difference is gratitude. Lucky has always had a happy, protected, plush life. Honeybun spent her first two years in apparent misery. At the very least those last few months before we found her were likely a living hell given the condition we found her in.

Lucky is an ingrate. Honeybun is thankful. Lucky doesn't see we are the source of his food, his bed, his chewy bones, and the soft couches we have finally given up protecting and let him sleep on. Honeybun always asks politely for every tidbit we offer, with moist gentle eyes, and then she says Thankyou by obeying our every wish.

I love Lucky, just like every mother continues to love a difficult child, but I cannot pretend there are not some deep seated character issues he really has never resolved.

But in this case, he was innocent, or at least more innocent than I had originally believed.

At times, I am a Lucky. I should be a Honeybun more. I forget to say Thankyou to the source of everything I possess. I forget to have an attitude of expectant gratitude for every breath of life I am granted. I grumble when my freedom is contained in any area, and I forget that the freedom I have is a gift. I worry about so many things when the source of all things has promised me that He will provide and all that I need, I already have when I have Him. So I love Lucky also because I understand. He does occasionally look at me sadly, like he knows he has blown it again.

"I just can't help it," he says with his ears drooping, head hanging.
"Sometimes it seems I can't either, " I answer.
"Oh woe is me!" he moans, "Is there no hope!? The very things I should not do, those are the things I do. And the very things I should do, those are the things I do not do."
"The apostle Paul had the same problem."
"He did?"
"Honestly we all do, Lucky, you just are a little outside the bell curve on this one."
"Then you won't send me to the Dog Pound?"
"No, you are forgiven. However, I'd prefer you demonstrate your love a little more tangibly by trying a little harder to do what I ask, don't miss-hear me on this one."
"I will try.... I promise..... "
"Lucky!!!! No! Don't eat that muffin wrapper! Stop! oh....Lucky......"

Romans 7:17-19

¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.