PATPET and the HOLY SPIRIT
Candi continues her Winston sagas. This is such a great analogy. We can all benefit from Winston. Candi is definitely not barking up the wrong tree.
Wild Winston: PATPET and the HOLY SPIRIT
Winston’s first visit with the groomer was a disaster. The hair dryer was his nemesis, and he let his displeasure be known.
Trainer Kerry worked her magic, teaching him that the tool he viewed as his enemy was, at least, if not his friend tolerable.
On his second visit he decided that he didn’t want his legs and feet touched by the clippers. Showing his displeasure he tried to bite the groomer.
We feared we would be told that our boy was being kicked out of doggy spa! It seemed nothing could bend Winston’s formidable will.
That changed the day Trainer Kerry witnessed Winston at hiswildest and suggested we try a dog training collar. PATPET is designed as a tool—an advocate, in a sense—for better behavior from our furry little friend.
With the press of a button a vibration is sent to his collar, and as if by magic, Winston snaps out of it. It truly is a sight to behold.
The collar also has two other options: noise and static shock.
Fortunately, the discipline of the vibration to his collar is all that is needed.
Trainer Kerry tells us that this is not always the case. Some dogs are far more hard-headed than others. Just like we humans.
Because we love Winston we choose to discipline him. We want him to learn to obey so that he can live his best life now.
We cannot begin to imagine the great love our Father has for us. He, too, wants us to live and be the very best He designed us to be. That is why He disciplines us.
”My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son He delights in.” Prov. 3:11-12
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” Hebrews 12: 5-6
Fortunately, Winston requires only a slight nudge from his PATPET to move him in the right direction of better behavior.
If only my strong will had been more pliable early on, I would have saved myself a lot of hard knocks.
Father God disciplines us because He wants to keep us on the right path, save us from ourselves, and help us to mature in our faith. He wants to purify us from sin and make us holy.
How harsh must His discipline be to capture your attention?
Is a slight whisper to your spirit enough to set your feet on the right path?
Will a moment of a vibration cause you to turn from yourselfand look to Him?
Or does it take something more painful—something more shocking—to get your attention and lead you to live His way instead of your own?
Only you know the answer to those questions. May we all be malleable in His hands.
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay; You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64: 8
Make it a “Tailing” Tuesday! God is good…