I’ll admit it right up front, I am not a dog lover. I know, in 2020 that is not a popular thing to say. It’s right up there with I don’t drink coffee. What??? It’s true. I don’t drink coffee. There, I said it. Hopefully, we can still be friends. Here’s the good news. While I don’t love dogs or coffee, I love the people who do! How’s that? Anyway, back to my story. 

With three kids and lots of grandkids, dogs find their way to my house in spite of my not-loving-them thing. One day, when my grands were younger, I came home from work to discover they were washing their dog in my ice chest. I did feel a little sorry for the dog. It was during the winter and, even in the south, it was way too cold to run the water hose and wash a dog.

Sadly, this creature was in desperate need of attention, so he wasn’t complaining one bit. The dog was a white, longed-haired shaggy thing who, at this point, resembled your grandmother’s old mop hanging on the back porch. Definitely, the winter rain and mud had not been kind to this dog as he was a collection of everything woodsy and muddy. In fact, according to many folks on our street, it bordered on animal cruelty to NOT take him in and have him groomed. Not long after the bath-in-the-ice-chest experience, which didn’t work, my daughter finally took the poor thing in for a full doggie spa experience. 

Like most of us after a trip to the beauty shop, this shaggy dog returned a new man. His hair was short, he smelled good, and he literally walked with a strut. The kids were now proud to play with this clean-smelling, clean-shaven pet instead of shunning him like Sunday’s left-overs. In reality, nothing really changed about the dog except his outside appearance. He was still the lovable dog he always was who longed for a pat on the head and a belly rub, but he looked and smelled so much better.

What had changed was how WE looked at him. Aren’t you glad you serve a God who loves you in spite of the way you look? If the Covid-19 months haven’t so kind to you, God doesn’t care. And I’m not really talking about the potential extra pounds or the gray roots. I’m talking about some behaviors that you might have put on that aren’t too flattering on you right now. The good news is God sees past the mistakes you’ve made and right to your heart. 

God knows all of your hurts, hang-ups and habits and loves you just the same. 

My grandkids were so excited to see a clean dog and, once clean, they loved playing with him. But our God’s love isn’t defined by outside appearance, He loves us just as we are and His loving grace continually cleans us with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Listen to this. It will make you smile:

 
“God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud. Men and women don’t live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, but a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. God’s love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.” Psalms 103:6 (the Message)

While a dirty dog might find himself in poor favor with the family, there is absolutely nothing you can do to drive God’s love away from you. Rest in that message today. Then, have a talk with God and let him know how thankful you are that He loves you just the way you are.