“Have patience with all things but first of all with yourself.” —Francis de Sales
All things includes all things. Even dogs. And especially Frankie.
Many of you have probably smiled at the story you might sometimes hear Christians share about how a woman asked a preacher to pray with her to help her have more patience. As the story goes, the preacher began praying for this woman to have all sorts of problems and troubles. The woman interrupted his prayer, telling him she wanted him to pray for her to have patience. Not trouble. And then he reminds her of a verse in the Bible.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. …Romans 5:3-4.
Of course, not all of us, actually very few of us, can look upon tribulations in our life with the calmness and faith and glory of Paul. Even so we sometimes, usually with a smile, say we didn’t pray for patience when we are beset with a bevy of irritating happenings in our life. I sometimes say that when I talk about bringing Frankie home for the dog shelter. “I must have prayed for patience before Frankie caught my eye at the human shelter.” That’s because there is no doubt he has given me plenty of reasons to need patience with him. There is also no doubt that, if I were a better dog trainer with an abundance of patience to begin with, he might have learned better behavior and not continually given me reason to need that extra patience.
But Frankie has a mind of his own. Not all the time, but a lot of the time. I live on a farm with plenty of acres for him to explore but there are days when all he wants to explore are the yards of the neighbors. The neighbors have chickens and ducks and nice yards that don’t need holes dug in them. Frankie is not critter friendly. He is ready to attack chickens and ducks and dig holes to find underground critters. He does love people, especially children, but he can be over enthusiastic and, especially when I first got him, apt to jump up in his eagerness to be noticed. He is better about that now. I did train him a little.
When we walk, he is not a dog to make sure he stays near me. He can disappear in a minute, less than a minute. If he finds something interesting, say one of those critters to dig for, he can stay disappeared for a good while. I used to try to find him and would discover I was looking one direction, perhaps where he had first headed, when he was actually already on my other side after making a circle through the trees or bushes or perhaps he flew over my head. Well, not really. But I learned I couldn’t figure out where he might be.
His beautiful black fur seems to attract cockleburs and sticktights and more. Once, but so far only once, he found a skunk. I hope that’s the only time. But the worst thing he does and the thing that requires the most patience from me is the running off to the neighbors. At times we are down in the field on a walk and suddenly, he will take off back toward the house in a run. If I yell at him to stop, he looks back over his shoulder at me and runs faster toward the neighbors’ houses. I have sometimes tried to catch him, but he runs much faster than I do and the hills don’t bother him at all. They do me! And so, I gather my patience and look for him in whichever neighbor’s yard he chooses to explore. I try to grab him before he does damage and so far, I have. Sometimes one of the neighbor’s sons will grab him for me and bring him to me.
I give Frankie a talking to, but so far he hasn’t shown any sign of really listening. Instead the next time it is time for a walk, he gives me that pitiful look that says he has to have a walk and maybe he will be good. And I am hopeful that’s true. But not so hopeful that now I haven’t started leaving Frankie on leash longer out on this big farm with fields he could run in as long as he didn’t run off to the neighbors. Sigh.
But you know what? That is the way we as Christians often are. Promising to be better. Promising not to run off in all the wrong directions and yet, we often do. Then we can get into trouble and need forgiveness. The Lord is merciful to forgive our straying, our stumbling.
“I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people” Exodus 34:6 (CEV)
I am thankful for the Lord’s patience with me, aren’t you?
Comments 16
Maybe as Frankie gets older he will stay with you more and not run off. My dog is 11 years old and has done better as she gets older. I only hope that it will be the same for Frankie.
Yes we all need patience and forgiveness.
Author
I’m not sure it will make him never want to go see the neighbors, Connie, but he is already better than he was when I first got him. So, perhaps there is hope. I’d say there is at least hope he won’t be able to run as fast and maybe I can catch him. But then, I will also be older and not able to run as fast. LOL
And yes, we do all need the hope of forgiveness and a new start.
Yes indeed. I’m so thankful for God’s mercy and patience. Frankie just has adventure in his blood. He’s like those kids who travel to the beat of their own drum, such as Thomas Edison was. I got a flat coat Labrador puppy for my 10th birthday and she was like Frankie… loved to roam. Our veterinarian called her the Avon lady because he’d see her at everybody’s houses.
Author
That’s so funny, Lee. I had a dog before Frankie who did make the rounds of the neighbors and more. I didn’t have a fence then but decided Frankie needed a fence or at least I needed a fence for my sanity.
I somewhat blame his hardheadedness and roaming on living as a stray for a while before he was picked up by the dogcatcher. That helps me be more patient with him.
Loved your dog story and I happen to have a soft spot for those not-so-well-trained dogs (many a dirty look have I received from strangers who undoubtably believe I should manage my dogs better–and I should and try, but alas, not a good trainer). I love the parallels you draw in our own waywardness.
I think Frankie has such a soulful look to his face. It’s good he has a home with you and I am sure you are as patient as any of us could be under the circumstances.
I hope Frankie surprises you with wonderful obedience the rest of this summer.
Author
That would be a surprise, Amy. However, he is better than he was when I first got him several years ago. Then he would run off and not let me catch him. Now when he sees me coming after him, he doesn’t run away. I won’t say he comes running to me, but he does let me put the leash back on him.
I’m glad you enjoyed reading about Frankie and appreciated the parallels I mentioned to our own waywardness at times.
I think we all struggle with patience, and I am also very thankful for the Lord’s patience with me too. Our fur babies can try our patience a lot, but their cute faces are often hard to stay angry at. 🙂 I am thinking you could write some great children’s books about Frankie and his adventures around your farm and the neighbors’ homes. It seems he has already gotten into plenty of scrapes to give you many ideas for some stories. I keep thinking I should write some children’s books about our cats and some pets we used to have but haven’t done it…I think I let the fear of failure get in my way but with your gift of writing, I am sure you could come up with some great stories that kids would love.
Author
Sometimes you just have to dive in and write those stories for the fun of it, Hope. I talked to my agent earlier today and she says that because of AI that the children’s book editors are being flooded with picture books and kids books done by artificial intelligence. It’s a weird world we are living in sometimes.
But it would be fun to write a book about Frankie. As I told Donna, I used to think I could write a story called “Where’s Frankie?”
“Where’s Frankie?” sounds like a great title. I have loved to read since I was a child and love reading to my kids and kids I cared for through the years and as a toddler room teacher many years ago. It is sad to think that AI is being used for books now. I am afraid creativity is being lost in many ways with all of the technology being developed. I would want to read your Frankie book if you ever write one, even if I don’t have any little ones, but maybe I will have a grandchild or two someday to read to. 🙂
Author
Like you, I love reading aloud to children and sharing my love of books. Who knows? Maybe I’ll write a story about Frankie and illustrate it with his pictures. That might be fun.
I very much liked your article today. Love Frankie’s picture and antics. I particularly liked the last paragraph–it’s a good reminder.
Author
Frankie does have his antics for sure, Loretta. I’ll think he’s better and then he will prove me wrong. He headed off for the neighbors today, but I sat down on the ground. For some reason, that stopped him and he came back. It’s worked twice now. Not sure why, but at least the neighbor’s ducks didn’t have to worry.
We all stumble and fall short at times. Glad you like the lesson of patience for others and for us.
I loved that short story, you should write a whole book about Frankie and all of his antics, it would be a page turner.
Author
Glad you enjoyed reading about Frankie. I used to think about writing a book titled “Where’s Frankie?” LOL.
I have had a similar experience with my dog, Remi. However, I do love coming home to someone who welcomes me wholeheartedly. Blessings, dear one.
Author
I think Frankie misses me if I’m gone very long, like overnight, Suzie, but just a trip to town doesn’t get him too excited to see me coming home. It’s more like a look up and a few sweeps of the tail as though saying, “Glad you’re back.” I once had a cocker spaniel that made you feel like queen of the day when you came home. He was that excited to see you.