Dogs do it right!

 

Meet Max! No, Max is not living with us. I love dogs and we have had dogs in our homes most of our life, but living downtown with no yard would be terrible for both us AND the dog. We watched Max while McKenzie and Jeff were gone. I had to walk Max to the park to “do his business.” Poor guy hated it as much as I did. Now Max is displaced again while McKenzie and Jeff make their transition to California. Thanks Lindsae! She Got Max, we got Jordan! LOL!

 I was reading Mark 7:24-30 and was a little stressed about the reference to dogs. 

“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. 

Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, ‘First I should feed the children— my own family, the Jews.It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.’ She replied, ‘That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.’ ‘Good answer!’ He said. ‘Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.’ And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.”

I have always thought this was such a strange story. I am just uncomfortable with the tone I perceive from Jesus. I cannot get pass Jesus referring the the mother and daughter as dogs. Is he really being crass and flippant with this mother who is just trying to help her daughter? (Mark 7:24-30)

I know Jesus!

 I am confident his intent is not rudeness.

 Someone told me, maybe Jesus was just having a bad day. I chuckled and said, “Nope, I can’t believe Jesus HAD bad days!” So somehow our perceptions are wrong. Have you ever read someone’s email or social media post and really gotten angry, then when you spoke with them, you realize the tone is not what you read? When you know someone, you always give them the benefit of the doubt. Jesus, at the very least, deserves the benefit of the doubt. 

I have heard various explanations. They all sound feasible. The one thing I want to focus on, though,  is the strength, resilience, and WIT of the Gentile woman. She was fighting for her daughter. Her response touches me and I am guessing it touched Jesus. She didn’t whine about the reference. She didn’t argue, call the media, asked for an investigation. We get no indication she took it personal or was offended at all. Hmm, I wonder if there is a lesson for us?

Jesus was impressed with her and heals the little girl.  You know what? Dogs react much the same way this woman responded to Jesus. I have seen people be terribly rude and even cruel to dogs. But, it is impossible to hurt the feelings of a dog. They love no matter what. They will come back, time and time again, wagging their tails, seeking love and affection. As I think about this more, is it really that bad to be compared to a dog?  I think we have a lot to learn about jumping to conclusions, assuming the worst, and serving others. Jesus did it right. This woman did it right. Dogs do it right. I need to do it right.