Merrilynn Butterfield - Gods Lessons Through My Dog, Zander

Gods Lessons Through My Dog, Zander

Merrilynn Butterfield

Trilogy Christian Publishers

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Copyright 2020 by Merrilynn Butterfield

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version . Cambridge Edition: 1769.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64773-267-7 (Print Book)

ISBN 978-1-64773-268-4 (ebook)

Dedication

To God firstwithout Him, nothing is possible. With Him, all things are possible.

To my parents, Benjamin and Roberta Butterfield, who showed me the Way and lived by example.

To my sister, Susan, who has loved me and forgiven meand because she said she wanted to be included in the dedication, so here you go.

My sister Susan and I with Boxcar my grandparents dog (1965) I loved dogs even then

Contents

Lesson 1:

Lesson 2:

Lesson 3:

Lesson 4:

Lesson 5:

Lesson 6:

Lesson 7:

Lesson 8:

Lesson 9:

Lesson 10:

Lesson 11:

Lesson 12:

Acknowledgements

Coastal Boxer Rescue of Florida www.coastalboxers.org

Rocky Mount, VA shelter www.plannedpethoodrockymount.com

Foreword

I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Although born again, I wandered out of Gods will for too many years and for that, I repent. God knows my many mistakes, and I am oh, so glad He has separated the sin from the redeemed as far as the east is from the west, but there are people who will remember my sins. I have, in my heart, forgiven all those whom God has brought to mind; if there are any folks in this world who want me to ask for their forgiveness, then tell me. Or better yet, offer it up to our heavenly Father, who forgives all. From that point forward, we begin to heal the hurts in our souls as we seek His face. I want nothing to impede my walk in the Spirit with Jesusand when He comes again in glory, most of all, I want to see you there.

Prologue

Did you choose to read this testimony because Jesus is in it, or because theres a dog story in it? Either way, welcome. May this missive gladden your heart and edify your soul.

There is an old joke: Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Many times in my life (so far) I have felt broken, which seems to explain my affinity for broken dogs. I am a mere human, with faults and foibles and a history of many mistakes; but if the joke contains a grain of truth, then even I am correct occasionally. Of course, if the clock is on military time, its only right once a day since no number repeatsand if so, this testimony is my one shot, and I will do my best to get it right. If God wants this on the record, then I believe He will bless it.

I must also acknowledge the cat people, cow people, horse people, and iguana people, because although these lessons are focused on dogs and God and me, I do not intend to say that these realizations do not apply to cats or other animalsonly that the revelation came to me from God through my dog. God can use any medium that He likes to teach us, because well, Hes God . When God wants to talk to you, He will whisper truth down any avenue of your heart that is open to receive. Since I have been a guardian of dogs for the last thirty years, God used one to show me His definitions of truth, mercy, compassion, and patience. What domesticated creature on earth shows the fruits of the Spirit more diligently than a dog? I mean, dog is God spelled backwards, right? So for me, dogs are it, but as Gods truth is revealed it wont matter whether it came through dogs, or broken clocks. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV), The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

If any other animal guardian says, Hey, my horse taught me the same stuff, then my hope is that you will see our commonality in learning, not our difference in the classroom.

Not all of my dogs have taught me something, either. I cannot write with certainty that it was because the dog had nothing to teach; it is more likely that I did not have a spirit of learning and receiving Gods truth. But if I learn it now, and give the testimony of my learning to you, the reader, that is all I can do. Regardless of my past, I move forward in a godly spirit and do my best to share with you what I have been given.

Introduction

Zander at the Rocky Mount, VA shelter. Back in his fearful days.

This journey back to the loving arms of God begins with Zander. He is not my most-loved dog, or my first dog; he is my most recent dog and my only non-boxer. All of the other dogs were boxers or boxer mixes and had a consistency of breed that trained me to expect certain characteristics. Its Zanders differences, and my focus on his recovery and rehabilitation, that started this season of learning. Zander came to me as a fearful dog when I was at my most fearful; neither one of us is aggressive in our fear. I have had nine dogs (not all at once) of a bully breed variety that were stubborn and comical and velcro-like. Nine dogs that wanted only to be with me to be happyand they didnt give two hoots whether we were walking or driving or lounging, or if I was working on something and their only job was to sleep through it.