King James Bible: Psalm 18:2
The
LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength,
in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my
high tower.
My
step-dad used to jokingly (or maybe not so jokingly) say that if there was such
a thing as reincarnation, he wanted to come back as one of my grandmother’s
dogs. Meaning, her dogs had a great life…amazing food, regular deluxe baths,
the most comfortable part of the sofa, extra treats, various toys, an unlimited
supply of love and affection, no expense spared to meet any need for her
‘babies!’ For all intrinsic purposes, anyone that knew my grandmother, knew her
dogs were numero uno! Once she had a large beautiful dog, half -husky and
half-saint Bernard, named King. My step-dad said it was the most appropriate
name for ALL of her dogs. “They certainly enjoyed a king’s life,” he’d quip.
So,
to say that you’re being or have been treated like a dog, in some instances could
be a wonderful thing. But let’s look at the other side…
I
greatly dislike those SPCA commercials of the wounded and a mistreated animals.
I usually turn the channel if I can. Not because, I’m not stirred by the images
on the screen, but because it sickens my stomach. It stimulates my compassion.
(My hubby says I’m the type of person who would live or own a zoo if possible.
Remember that movie that came out a few years back, “We Bought a Zoo” with Matt
Daemon? Well, you get the idea…) It’s heartbreaking to see how human beings can
be so cruel and thoughtless to a lesser, innocent animal. I remember several
years ago, in a town next to mine, a lady found 2 kittens nailed to a box
outside of a grocery store. The poor things had been “crucified” in the way they
had been positioned on the board –their little paws each pulled far apart and
maliciously nailed. Who would do that?!!
The police never caught the perpetrators, but felt like it was a group of
teens. (Even sadder to me)
So WHY DO people intentionally hurt you?
What gain do people get from it?
Ever
worked or lived with anyone who had a horrid bark? Not just a harsh bark but an
even nastier bite? Why DO we turn on
each other, often biting the one who has loved and cared for us?! You’ve
probably seen or experienced people “within the church” guilty of this same
behavior. WHY do they abuse authority, position, or titles?
My short
answer…Selfishness and Ego.
Here are a few tips
for when the ATTACK dogs
Are on the loose in
your life!
·
Don’t
try to control them when they’re out of their cage! This means you can’t
rationalize with an irrational person. If it’s appropriate, use animal
behaviors, and don’t confront them with eye contact. Remain calm. It emblazons
the attacker more often than not when we defend ourselves.
·
Remember
that one’s sense of entitlement
doesn’t make being mean-spirited okay. I used to have a boss who constantly (or
regularly at least) said demeaning things about female leadership. I didn’t understand
it for a long time, until I understood that he must have been insecure within
himself. He spent a lot of time going “up and down the block” intimidating and
bullying the rest of us. Did it make him happier? Probably not. Nicer? No.
·
Understand
that you can’t fix people!
Only God can do that. We can pray. We can control our own reactions. We can
bite our tongues, figuratively. We can TRAIN ourselves through God’s Word.
Don’t try to TRAIN a dog in attack mode…it doesn’t work. They have to be
willing and calm first. It remains true that wild animals attack other smaller
or weaker animals. They seek to devour. Purpose in your heart to let God fight
your battle. He’s NEVER
lost a battle, so I put a lot of confidence in His track record!
·
Some
dogs attack out of anger and/or a thirst to dominate. They may lash out at you,
but they’re really mad at the world. At themselves. They want to control
SOMETHING in their lives. Offer soothing words, a turned cheek of forgiveness,
but I wouldn’t encourage you to try and solve their issues. The truth is, at
this point, most attack dogs are driven by their ego.
·
Grab
the pepper spray!
Go for the shock collar!! Okay, just kidding here. No need to carry a big
stick, at least most of the time. But the Word of God is our weapon. HE
promised to be our shield! (Psalm 18:2)
·
Keep
telling yourself,
“God will equip me with the strength I need to deal with this situation.” Or this person. Or this event. Remind yourself
that no enemy formed against you will prosper! They may win the battle, but not
the war! (Isaiah
54:17)
·
Then
finally, when attack dogs/people come barking and biting…Don’t go back to try and
shut the gate! Keep walking…walk away
before you’re hurt further! You’re walking into enemy territory. Start
praising God for His blessings, His purpose in your life, His love for you, His
dying on the Cross for you, His continued protection. Force OUT the barking and
let IN the peace of God. It can be challenging! I understand this all too well.
But, in your car, in your cubicle, in your mind, in your office, as soon as
possible – ask Him not to allow you to fall into a trap. Hold back your own
tendency to lash back. (We’re human!) Play some heavenly, Godly music. Write
some notes in your journal. Pray to God. Do things that will mentally
pepper-spray that old adversary’s mouth shut! Don’t try to fix it yourself.
Look
for those “Beware of Dog!”
signs! They might help you avoid being bitten.
Let’s do look UP!
