But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works. Psalm 73:28

Belle the Loyal

 Before our black lab, Belle, got old, and began losing her hearing and sight, she would bark and chase away any unwanted nighttime visitors to our garden.  But for the last couple of years she hasn't been up to the task and the deer have ravaged everything.  It's a real problem. Of course, the deer don't think there's a problem!  I plant tasty new delights, broccoli, green beans, corn, and they eat the tender young plants before they've even had a chance to mature.  Perfect. . . for them.

  This year we're trying something new.  Instead of planting our tomatoes in rows, we planted and caged them around the perimeter of the garden, then, leaving a small opening on one side, my husband tied fishing line between the cages, the idea being that these deterrents would create, if not an impenetrable fence, at least enough confusion to make the deer skittish about coming near.  It seemed to be working fairly well, until one morning when I discovered the small tracks of a young deer near the lettuces.  Time for phase two of the garden defense plan! 

My husband pulled an old clothesline pole out of the junk pile and "planted" it in the middle of the garden.  Next we "dressed" it with one of his old shirts. Voila!   We now had a guard to stand sentinel over the garden at night.  We expected "he" would keep the deer away, but what we didn't expect was the dog's response.  While her eyesight and hearing are waning, Belle's sense of smell is still keen, and detecting the scent of her master on that shirt, she laid down to rest at the "feet" of its wearer.  She stayed there so long that eventually she fell asleep.  Such loyalty!  Such trust!  Such a desire to be near her master!

In the parable of the Good Shepherd, Jesus said of Himself and His sheep:

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.  John 10: 4-5

I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  John 10:14

            In our sheepfold-like garden, Belle the Loyal, detected the scent of the master she knew and loved, and abandoning all other giddy, doggish pursuits— splashing in the creek, barking at squirrels, following me or the boys around the yard— she settled herself at his feet. In the scent of his presence she stayed, and in the scent of his presence she felt safe enough to sleep. 

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  John 10:10-11

Do we know the "scent" of our Master as well as Belle knew the scent of hers?  Are there pursuits we would willingly abandon to sit at His feet?  How long will we stay?  Do we trust Him enough to rest in His presence?  Why wouldn't we choose this more abundant life?  He gave His life so we could.

Daye Phillippo

June 2011