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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 NIV

Since adopting a puppy, we have lots of stories: stories of chewed up shoes and clothes; stories of terrified neighbor children. My favorite stories are the ones that happened as daddy was trying to leave for church after I had already gone early for orchestra. Buddy the Dog would inevitably drag some item out of the garage and wait for daddy to chase him around. Once Buddy dragged out the electric hedge trimmer still in the box and ran wild in the backyard.

This past winter, we had some very cold days (at least for the south!) so Buddy was given more opportunities to stay inside while we were gone. One particular day the kids and I were trying to leave, and there was Buddy, running around the back yard, with trash in his mouth. We chased him around like idiots, yelling at him and calling him a bad dog. Nothing worked. Nothing made him drop his garbage so he could be allowed into the warmth of the house. Here is a family dressed in Sunday clothes, chasing a big black dumb dog around the yard for trash! It didn’t take me long to give in and leave him out. We were initially sad about leaving him outside, but that changed after I convinced the kids that it was his stupid choice.

He gave up the opportunity for warmth in order to hold onto his garbage.

When I told the kids that there must be a spiritual application somewhere in this story, one teen said, “God gave us dogs in order to see ourselves.” Pretty insightful! Are there times I have found myself holding onto the “garbage” of my own way while God is calling me to the warmth and peace of His will? Do you ever find yourself there too? Like Buddy the Dog, we keep running around with our plans rolled up in our mouths. We have ideas, plans, lists, but they aren’t what God has in mind for us. It keeps coming down to my will versus His will. Pride versus humility. Accepting His plan for my life, and living that life for His glory and not my own. I can be holding onto anger or bitterness for allowing this widow journey.

I don’t want to let go of it…But I have to let go of it in order to follow God. He doesn’t make me drop it. He doesn’t chase me with a large stick like I may or may not have done with Buddy the Dog. He promises that His yoke is easy. How can that be?

It isn’t in the sense that “easy” means “without trials”. When Jesus told the disciples they needed to cross the water in a boat and (while they were obeying Jesus) they encountered a storm– they were right where God wanted them. The Apostle Paul went through a lot of difficulties while following God. I think it has to do more with a humble acceptance that we are right where God wants us to be, right where He can use us to help someone else, right where we can bring glory to Him, right where we totally rely on Him and not ourselves.

So when I look at Buddy the Dog, I ask myself if I am choosing the garbage of my will instead of the warmth of God’s will. And I remind myself that His yoke is easy and His burden in light.

Father God, You call us to Yourself. You offer the promise of Your yoke being easy. Guide me today as I follow Your will and not my own. Help me to drop the “garbage” in my life, drop the constant urge to perform for Your love, and just accept the love You offer and the warmth of following Your will. Thank You that You don’t force us to follow, but that You lovingly hold Your hands out to us. Amen