Sharing Stories – Ivy

Ivy has been such an example of God’s love in my life. I’ve never been able to fully understand/believe that God could love me so much, despite all the times I’ve gone against what He would want me to do. I guess it’s hard to comprehend “unconditional” when most things in life are very conditional. But Ivy has led me to understand it just a little bit more. She is always ready to jump back in my arms and show me love no matter what I’ve done.

Let me give you this mornings example:
I made myself a bagel sandwich for breakfast, then went into my room to change for work. When I came out, I saw Ivy hovering over a half eaten bagel on the floor.. (she has not been the best about hopping up to the counter recently) Needless to say, I was furious. I don’t think I’ve yelled that much in a long time. When she heard me, she immediately went to her crate. I was so angry and still needed breakfast, so I scrambled to make something else to eat on my way out the door. After getting to work, I’m beating myself up about how I was so mean to her and how she probably is going to hate me. When I got home this afternoon, she immediately ran to me and jumped up in my arms and started giving me kisses. It was like she didn’t even remember this morning. Here I was, worrying all day and criticizing myself, when she had already gotten over it and was just waiting for me to come home.

I think this same situation happens a lot in my spiritual life as well. I’m beating myself up about all these past choices and things I’ve done, thinking God is going to hate me for it. When really God is just waiting on me (with so much love) to come home.