Fulfilling One's God-given Role

It was near 70 degrees two days ago, but yesterday dipped into the low 50s. We were all shivering.
"Honeybun looks cold," said Asherel, passing by the room where Honeybun and I were nestled.
"Well put on one of the three thousand outfits you bought her," I suggested.
So Asherel rummaged in her closet and found a pretty purple sweater into which the ever compliant Honeybun allowed herself to be ensconsced.

The sweet and gentle little dog submitted without complaint to the little dog hoodie. She is an amazing dog. She allows Asherel to do anything she wants with her, including dressing her in any ridiculous outfit she wishes. All Honeybun asks in return is to be near us, fullfilling her role perfectly as the family dog.

In my daily Bible reading, Solomon had just finished building the temple of God and now offered a sacrifice. God spoke to Solomon, and offered him anything he desired. Solomon humbly asked only for wisdom. That is the part of the story that I have always focused on -- that Solomon did not ask for worldly possessions but wisdom. However, I noticed a portion of the verse that I had never really paid much attention to before. God is impressed by Solomon's thoughtful request for wisdom, which God notes is "to govern my people over whom I have made you king." It struck me that what Solomon was doing was recognizing his God-ordained role and wanted God's help in best doing the job God had given him.

I don't think I often pray with that focus. Basically, I should be asking God for the ability to carry out God's purposes in my life...not my own. As Solomon discovered, blessings may follow, but they were not at all the focus or even apparently the desire. I am sorry to say, my prayers are probably usually the opposite, "Bless me Lord that I may do MY work," rather than, "Empower me Lord to do YOUR work."

Honeybun placidly lay like a rag doll as Asherel stuffed her legs through the dog sweater armholes, and then pushed her snout through the neck opening. She let Asherel roll her over and straighten the little hoodie around her tummy. Asherel stood to survey her little dog. Honeybun looked like a purple sausage in the somewhat snug hoodie. She sighed, but would do whatever was necessary to fulfill her role as dog. Asherel went back to work. I noticed an hour later that Honeybun wasn't curled up so tightly with her tail over her snout for warmth. She snored a little, toasty warm with the unexpected blessing of the sweater.

2 Chronicles 1:11-12 NIV
[11] God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, [12] therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have. ”


-save a dog- hollowcreekfarm.org
http://www.amazon.com/Vicky-Kaseorg/e/B006XJ2DWU