Okay, I must admit that Carl wasn’t my first choice. At the time, he wasn’t even on my radar. I had requested a brown colored female bulldog. I was specific that this is what I wanted. But as life has it, it wasn’t meant to be. The brown colored beauty died only a couple days after birth. Her mother cuddled too closely and smothered her.
Being eager for a new baby bulldog, I didn’t hesitate when the breeder sent me a picture of a little fawn colored male. Little did I know at this time, that this precious pooch would become my muse for my blog.
Have you ever felt the effects of being a second choice or even last in line? I can remember the disappointment that tugged at my heart when people would be chosen before me. The thoughts of inadequacy would cloud my mind as more and more people would be chosen and my name not called.
As I think back at these episodes in my life, I find a security in the fact that David wasn’t chosen by his own father to be worthy of being the next king. In 1 Samuel 16, Jesse presents Samuel with all of his sons except David. But God tells Samuel that David is the one He has chosen. 1 Samuel 16: 7 states, “For the LORD does not see as a man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart.”
How many times have I looked at the outward appearance of someone to decide if I want to associate with them? How often have I clung to people that are like me in appearance or ethnicity? But if I am to emulate Jesus, the Son of God, shouldn’t I look beyond the exterior and seek out the heart?
I am so thankful that God has provided me a bouquet of friends in my life that are from different ethnic and socioeconomic groups that are also seeking God’s heart. But most importantly, I believe that God will continue to bless me with the assurance that I have been chosen by Him to be his daughter.
As for Carl, I know that God picked him out just for us. And I will be eternally thankful for my dog who was second in line.
