This Sunday I shared that I have three amazing dogs, Fuzzy
Beardog, Jumpin Jenny Gump, and Farley Jo aka “Phat Jack”, Farles Barkley or
Mr. Jack.
Farley is an amazing Jack Russell. My son Zach and I found him at a pet store
where nobody wanted him and they were about to get rid of him. He was the coolest puppy there and he matched
my oldest son’s red hair.
Farley was an instant gift to our family because we had just lost our
German Shepherd we had for 17 years.
Farley brought so much joy and peace to our family. My son Zach charged
him with taking care of me and told him his seat in the car was on the arm
rest. He still sits there to this day
every time we are in the car.
Farley is a little on the “heavy side” for a jack. When he is excited his little bobbed tail
moves extremely fast and he sways his entire body back and forth. Farley has an issue though.
He constantly compares himself to my other two dogs. His comparison issues have begun to be an
obsession.
Here are the examples:
1. Each week
I come home with bones. I have to give
Farley his first because he is so overwhelmed with excitement and he is jumping
the most. I hand Farley his bone….he
runs with it and hides it in a corner, and is back just in time to watch me
hand jenny and bear their bones. As
Jenny and bear chew their bones Farley lays in between the two and just whines
and whines because he wants their bones instead of the one he has been
given. He wants what the others have so
much that he cannot enjoy what he has.
2.
I can sit and pet Farley and give him love all
day and no matter how much love I give him, he needs more. If another dog comes and sits by me, he comes
up and puts his big “Phat Jack” behind on their head! Yes, he sits on their heads! He can’t allow anyone a chance for attention.
3.
When we first got Farley he was a master at
playing ball. When we got Jenny Gump she
learned to play ball watching him. One
day though, I threw the ball and Jenny got to it first. She started beating him to the ball quite
regularly. Farley got beat pretty often.
One day I threw the ball and both Jenny and Farley went after it….Farley felt
Jenny coming up behind him so he just turned around and gave up. Now, every time we play ball Farley just goes
up on the porch and lies down. He has
compared himself to Jenny Gump…he believes that he can never catch her so he
has quit.
These are some real examples of comparison for all of
us. Have we compared the material things
of others so much that we become obsessed to just get more or that we can’t
appreciate what we have. Have we sought
the attention of a group or person that we tend overpower others by not letting
them speak or have a chance, and only think of ourselves. Have we given up on
something that we love because we just don’t believe we are good enough?
Each one of us were created for a purpose and for Gods great
design. We were not created the same or
for the same purpose as anyone else in the world. In Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 29 God is clear
that he created us a unique individual and He has plans for us! We matter, we
count and we are needed! Just as who we
are!
2 Cor. 10:12 But when
they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one
another, they do not show good sense.
----- I realize that our world today is constantly trying to tell us
that we have to be just like everyone else and that just doesn’t show good
sense. We spend so much time doing this
that we are not taking the time to see our own gifts. Farley is a precious and amazing gift to me. When I go to bed, he hops up with me, goes
under the covers by my feet, spins around 6 times and lies at my feet keeping
them warm. When I go for long walks Farley stays right by my side. Farley makes me
laugh by sliding down the reservoir hill on his back. On days I feel lonely he really helps me to
feel loved. He has an amazing
purpose! He is awesome to be around when
he is secure in just being Farley. When he is busy comparing himself and
seeking to gain more attention is when he is off balance, and to be completely
honest -not fun!
God wants us to walk out our purpose. As Romans 12:2 states he wants us not to
conform to what the world wants us to be.
He desires us to renew our minds
so that we are listening to who He says we are as well as, what He says our
purpose is. God is asking for us to
renew our minds so that we understand that His love will never fail you, it
will never give up on you and it never runs out on you. He wants you to
experience His love so deeply, so you can fulfill your purpose to share it with
every single person you meet. Renew
your minds so that you aren’t concerned with material things or your abilities
because you are putting your trust in Him that He will provide all you
need.
Dear God, please help me to not compare myself to others
today. Please give me the courage to
look to you for my value and my worth. Help me to have the courage to be myself and
to trust IN HIS plans and purpose.
