Learning and Growing
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. Proverbs 9:9
An anonymous poet wrote: ‘If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it; if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time; if you can forgive a friend’s lack of consideration; if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you, when, through no fault of your own, something goes wrong; if you can take criticism and blame without resentment; if you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct him; if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend; if you can face the world without lies and deceit; if you can conquer tension without medical help; if you can relax without liquor; if you can sleep without the aid of drugs; if you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed or color, religion or politics; then, my friend, you’re almost as good as your dog.’ Almost, but not quite! This poem is dedicated to two kinds of people: 1) Animal lovers. 2) Those committed to learning and growing: ‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.’
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me learn from an old Comfort Dog – that you created – and all that You created is there to teach us! In Jesus’ Name, Amen