This morning, I took my dog, Lucky, to the vet. He didn’t want to get in the car to leave. He came to the car door, sniffed, and high-tailed it back to the door of the house. Normally, he is all tail wags and happy jumps about car trips, so his behavior baffled me … at first. I realized I haven’t taken Lucky on any “fun” car excursions in quite a while … only trips to the groomer and the vet. No wonder he didn’t want to come with me!
I started thinking about myself and my own lack of enjoyment and “get up and go” lately. I didn’t want to get out of bed today, and it took me a long time to actually wake up and get going. I wondered if I’m a lot like my dog. Maybe I’m reluctant to start the day because I haven’t had enough enjoyable surprises lately, or even planned ones. Is my tail dragging because of boredom, exhaustion, or exhaustion as a result of boredom?
The little voice inside my head started speaking loudly: Nicki, God didn’t make this brilliant, enormous kaleidoscope of creation just so we could live monotonous, boring, tedious lives! Why would God, in His infinite wisdom, create all this magnificence just so we could ignore it? He wants us to dig in to life, taste its varied flavors, partake of its myriad of experiences, and feel a wide range of thrills and gratitude.
So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
When is the last time you did something “just for fun,” not because you had to or because it was on your to-do list for the day? When is the last time you went for a joy ride “just because”?
Let’s all make a renewed effort to stop at the park on the way home, call that friend we miss and want to re-connect with, take off our shoes and walk in the grass, or put on our favorite music and dance in the kitchen. God wants us to live these lives He has given us.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
psalm 34:8
I rewarded Lucky with a pup cup of whipped cream. He inhaled it, tail wagging ferociously with every lick. I hope he remembers this experience the next time I ask him to get into the car. And I hope tomorrow morning, I remember some enjoyment I experienced today, and get out of bed a little more easily.
Funnily His,
Nicki
Expressively HIS ... 