A Dog Story ~ #2

Last time, in A Dog Story ~ #1, I told you about the little monster who bit me while Denny and I were out on pick-up/delivery for our furniture restoration business. But then there was the day we ran across a Great Dane.

Parts of Pittsburgh are rather hilly, so we often park the big truck at the curb when someone has a steep driveway, and we're only picking up a piece or two. Such was the case in this story.

The customer simply needed us to repair one chair, or take it and replace some straps. I can't remember the specifics now, but I sure remember the Dane! As we began to descend the driveway, I saw a sign similar to the one you see here. I laughed at it, and showed it to Denny. He didn't laugh, and said he thought maybe it was for real. I said something like, "Nah, it's just a joke! They probably just have it to scare away burglars. C'mon."

I proceeded down the driveway without a care in the world, while Denny cautiously took small steps, looking around him as he went. I turned and saw he was still very near the road while I was halfway down the driveway. I laughed at him, then he said, "There it is! It's not a joke!"

Bounding toward me was the biggest dog I think I've ever seen! Looked like a horse... I knew there was no way I was going to make it back up the steep driveway in time. I'm no athlete, but sometimes I do think fast. She was closing in on me, so I quickly talked to her like we were old friends. I said, in my friendliest, high-pitched voice, "Well, heeeey there baby! How 'ya doin'?"

Suddenly, her tail started going, and I knew I was safe! Whew. Though she did nearly knock me over when she got to me. I'm just glad it wasn't a male. I hear they're much bigger...

~*~
The moral to the story?
Things aren't always as bad as you think they're going to be.So don't worry.
I thought of many scriptures to use at this point, but all of them seemed far more serious than this story merited. Passages like Daniel 6, where God shut the mouths of the lions, and Deuteronomy 31:7-8, where Moses encouraged Joshua, etc. Perhaps the best passage might be the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34 about not worrying. But I'll leave you with this reference, and remember, it's all loose analogy. Ok, maybe really loose...

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
~*~

But then, maybe it's not all that loose, since "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

One thing I learned for sure... Sometimes the little dogs are way scarier than the big ones!!