Barking Dogs

“But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark.”

Exodus 11:7

• Nutmeg emitted a deep throated purr of a growl rather than the expected bark. “What’s up with your dog?” I asked my friend Vickie. “I taught her not to bark.” Apparently Vicky’s lessons took hold, as Nutmeg never barked during my stay. In the silence of that Charleston after- noon, I considered my own behavior. Didn’t my tendency to demand attention constitute a form of barking? Earlier, despite initial reservations, I had applied for a pro- motion. Oh, I did take a minute to pray as I typed my resume, “Lord, I really want this job.” The subsequent interview high- lighted how ill-equipped I was for the additional responsibility. Hardly a surprise, given how I’d barked my demands to God, then without thought to any divine plans, pursued my own inclinations. What I’d barked for was a far cry from what I needed. In your prayers, be thoughtful.

#cupofcomfort #inspiration