Finding the Right Conditions

I bathed both dogs yesterday. Their respective approaches to this event was illustrative. Lucky eagerly hopped in the full tub of water on his own. I scrubbed him, and he leaned into my fingers, loving the massage and scratching every itch on his body. He would not have minded being bathed all day.

Honeybun cowered in the closet as I hunted her down. She peered at me fearfully. She smelled wet dog and knew what was coming. I picked her up, and she splayed her legs, tail between her hind legs. I put her gently in the water. Ears laid back, she trembled as I scrubbed her. She pushed her nose against me, hoping to hide, but knew she could not. She could not wait for me to lift her out of the tub and dry her off.

Here is the strange thing.

Lucky is the scaredy-cat dog. He is terrified of thunder storms. Every noise makes him jump out of his skin, and he startles at the tiniest toe near him when he is sleeping on the ground. He seeks comfort from us all day long because he is perpetually overcome with fear.

Honeybun is not afraid of anything. She sleeps like a rock through the biggest thunder storms and we can step right on her, and she just opens an eye and smiles at us.

Why do they change personalities when it is bath time?

Here is what I think God is telling me. Under the right conditions, ANYONE can be a hero, filled with courage, righteousness, and delight in life. The key is: find those conditions.

That's all. You figure out the rest.
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1 Corinthians 15:57 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

2 Corinthians 2:14 

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Philippians 4:13 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.