Lessons on Desire From Titus the Dog

One of my roommates, Sarah, has the best dog ever. Titus is friendly and kind, rewarding a simple coming in the door with tail wagging and a toy with which to play keep-away. He seems to have a knack for knowing when I'm sad, because he comes over and leans his large body into my thigh so I can pet him. He is a true God-send :)

But the main way he's been teaching me lately is his pure and unabashed way he communicates when he wants something. Whenever I'm fixing food, he comes into the kitchen and licks his lips, looking up expectantly with those sweet brown eyes of his. He unabashedly says, "Looks good. Can I have some?" Sometimes I am indifferent, sometimes a little annoyed. But lately I have been learning to be delighted. And to follow suit.

No, I'm not going to come into your kitchen and lick my lips and beg to eat your food. Unless you drop some on the floor....

But seriously, I am seeing lately what issues I have with desiring the gifts in other people. I know that for me it's a nasty spiritual infection that goes way back. The rotten fruit of it has been that when I truly admire someone and believe that their giftings are something I need, I try instead to convince myself that I don't need what they offer and can fill the need on my own. Or I try to somehow convince myself that what they truly have to offer is not important to me and that I don't care. 

From another angle, I try to convince myself that people don't need what I have to offer because I don't want rejection. Somehow, I feel like people would think me audacious to think that I could possibly give them anything useful. Granted, I have been growing in this area, but I still find traces of it. Like thinking that certain guys I admire would never look twice at me, or not asking people for help because I think they'll be bothered by my requests.

The most heartbreaking consequence is that I do this to God! I long for all the mighty beauty He has, but somewhere deep inside I have believed the lie that He doesn't want to give Himself to me without some kind of catch. SO not true! He wants to give freely, and He wants ME! He has made us pleasing to Himself, and He says, "May I partake in who you are? Will you give me your love freely?" One amazing night, He gave me such a beautiful word. He said so clearly, "I love you. Do you love me? From the moment I laid eyes on you. You melt me! I hate sin, but I don't hate you!" I was blown away. And this is for all people. He feels this way about everyone. His word says He does not play favorites!

When we know that kind of unconditional love, we can become more and more free to give. It won't happen over night, so stick with Him and let Him work. You'll see fruit of it. And part of that fruit will be to desire others and to let them desire you!