Lessons From My Dog

Briggs was a birthday present, given to me by my family in January 2001. We went to the breeder to look at the puppies when they were five-days old. We got to meet Briggs mother, half brother and grandmother. They were all great dogs and gave us a good indication of what the puppy we picked might be like. We had decided that we wanted to get a male, and since Springer’s come in black and white and liver and white, personally I was leaning toward a puppy that was of the later coloration. Briggs came from a large litter, much larger than normal, he was one of 14 puppies. One had died at birth which left 13. Briggs was the last puppy born. According to the breeder, Briggs was the one who pushed all the other puppies out. She also said that Briggs was a whiner and probably always would be. When we looked at the pups he was the one that made the most noise, moved around the most, and was the pushiest. He immediately caught my eye, along with one other pup. We went back and forth for a while trying to decide and finally chose Briggs. Of course his name wasn’t Briggs when we selected him; the breeder had called him something completely different. We named him Briggs, because at the time we raced go-karts powered by Briggs and Stratton engines, just like a lawn mower. My dream was to have a Briggs, and then to get a female and name her Stratton and maybe raise Springers. Briggs was only five days old when we picked him, but we named him and went back every week to visit him, hold him and play with him until he was old enough to leave his family and come join ours. After having Briggs for a few months we never thought about having two Springers again. One thing I can say about Briggs is that he is very social, loyal and completly devoted to me his master. Whenever I’m around he not only needs to be with me, but close enough to be touch me. Whatever direction I’m looking, his desire is to be in my line of sight. If I go out, he wants to go out. If I go for a ride he wants to come with me. He not only wants’ my attention, he craves it, and he is willing to do anything as long as it is with me. He also knows my voice, and when I call him he comes. Sometimes someone else in the family will try to get him to come, and if he is busy or his mind is on something or someone else he just won't come. But when I call, no matter what the distraction he comes. For the most part he is very obedient. He listens very intently really wanting to understand and do my bidding. Sometimes he does struggle with obedience. For example, if we come home and he has been lying on the bed or the couch or somewhere where he isn’t allowed, he hangs his head and goes to the laundry room, this is his way of doing penance. I want to be like Briggs with my Master Jesus. I want to be in Jesus’ line of sight, as close to Him as I can be. To crave to be with Him all the time, listening for His voice, coming when He calls, wanting to understand what it is He wants me to do and striving to do it, to be fit for my Master's use. Oh, I know I will fail, just like Briggs fails, I will lay down where I’m not suppose to be and have to hang my head. But Briggs knows that when he comes back up the stairs from the laundry room that I, his master will be there, will pat him on the head and say good dog Briggs..Oh Lord my prayer is that you might make me a Springer Spaniel!!
Grace and Peace.