Take a Taste

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. As a new bride, I was still honing my cooking skills. I’d tried my first batch of fried chicken that evening, and I was thrilled because everything had turned out perfectly. The chicken was golden brown and crispy. It looked like something out of a magazine. I put the platter of fried chicken on the table and turned around to finish dishing up the vegetables.

When I turned to place the vegetables on our kitchen table, I let out a scream that made my husband come running.

We had purchased a house up the street from my in-laws. It didn’t have a screen door, but it was warm that afternoon, so I’d opened the door to get some air. When I turned around to place the vegetables on the table, I dis-covered my father-in-law’s beagle, Ouncie, had trotted up 11th street to see us. He’d climbed on a chair and was eating my fried chicken!

He’s not the only dog who sneaks a bite of food. My friend had a huge St. Bernard named Lucy. She was so big that her head could comfortably reach the counter. One night, my friend left the kitchen for a few minutes while her stir fry cooked. When she returned, she discovered Lucy had stuck her head in the wok and eaten half of the contents.

Another time, Lucy polished off a platter of brownies. On a third occasion, Lucy devoured tater tots from a take-out restaurant.

When dogs are hungry, they dive right into what is in front of them.

What if we were that hungry for God’s Word? What if we devoured those pages with the same delight as hungry dogs? A feast of promises, comfort, advice, and instructions for living are right in front of us. A heaping helping of inspiration, worship, and praise are ours for the taking. And for dessert, there are sweet moments where God sits with us and whispers to our souls.

Isn’t it time we followed Ouncie and Lucy’s examples and helped ourselves to what God has waiting for us?

Father, I’ll be honest. I know I don’t read my Bible like I should. If I do, it’s in hurried little snatches. It’s your love letter to me, yet I allow it to gather dust. Please give me a hunger for your Word. Help it to come alive for me. Help me to see things I’ve never noticed before. Open up time for me to savor what I’m reading, to allow the words to seep into my soul and make a difference in my life. I don’t want to miss the messages you have for me. Thank you for this precious gift.

Paws to think:

Why don’t you read your Bible more often? How can you gain a hunger for God’s Word?

Did you know:

Chocolate, macadamia nuts, cooked onions, or anything with caffeine can be harmful to dogs. Evidently that didn’t bother Lucy’s bulk when she gobbled up brownies and stir fry!