Friday, February 12, 2010

Wakeup Call

What is the first sound that you hear each morning? Usually, before I open my eyes, I hear dogs whining. Sometimes, if I am very quiet, I can have the luxury of staying in a warm bed for a few stolen moments before I start the daily routine.

I am the pet feeder. Once the two dogs and three cats hear me, there is no rest or peace in the house until they are satisfied.

I follow the same routine each morning. I let the "alpha" dog out of my son's room. That is our oldest dog--a collie. She goes out briefly and then I feed and water her in her cage. The small cocker then goes outside and back in to be fed and watered in the hallway.

While the dogs eat, I feed the cat that is on the back porch. She has been meowing loudly ever since the first dog went out. Water and cat food are placed on top of the picnic table. Why in this order and on top of the table? So that the collie doesn't eat the cat food.

Next the two cats in the garage are fed. They too have been singing a loud grating chorus until I arrive with their cat food. They do not get along with the porch cat so they are fed separately.

There is still no peace. The cocker is never satisfied. She finishes in the hallway and begins searching the floor for more morsels of food. One morning, recently, she wandered to the back door and discovered the cat food canister. She knocked the lid off and stuck her head in--for another snack. She could get her head in, but not back out.

I arrived in the living room to a loud banging noise as the pup careened off the furniture trying to get out of her "food trough". I wanted to take a picture but feared she might run short of air inside this canister. I jerked the canister off as the cat food went all over the carpet.

What did the puppy do next? She scrambled around, devouring the cat food off of the floor. I collapsed with laughter. I would not even have to sweep this up; the food would be gone before I could get the broom.

My twenty minute pet feeding ritual is over. There is no rest for my ears or time for a cup of coffee until all the animals are satisfied. I don't even get the day off on the weekends.

I began to wonder, do I hunger for God as soon as I wake up, like these pets crave their food? What is the first thing God hears from me each morning?


As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Psalms 42:1,2


My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
Isaiah 26:9


O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning.
Isaiah 33:2

Lord, I want my first thoughts to be about you each morning. Help me to see that true satisfaction comes from seeking you first and no other. Let me see how much I need you. May I not rest until I am fed from your Word each morning.

For more spiritual refreshment visit Spiritual Sundays.

22 comments:

  1. So true. I wake up, take care of my immediate needs & then feed the cats, give one his treats, etc. Now we have a dog/pup in the house, so her needs will have to be met. I hate to feel like "there is room in there for Him" because it should be the other way around... but then I would feel guilt for not meeting the needs of my 'children'. Hmm. Definitely something to pray over. Thanks for the thought!
    Stopping in from Spiritual Sunday. Mine will be up on Sunday or late Sat night.

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  2. I like this post....great analogy and I can see the animals scrambling as you feed them. ☺ I want to hunger for HIm always. have a great weekened. Sarah

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing this great reminder/post!

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  4. I was chuckling at first, because any of us with pets can so totally relate. Then I saw where your post was going...
    What a great analogy. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. This was a really good anaolgy, and one I too can relate to. We have a cat in the garage as well as a small dog in the house and they are DEFINITELY fed first, haha...I do try to have a few minutes of prayer before my feet hit the floor every morning though. My days started this way are so much better I have found. Thanks for this reminder. Have a wonderful week-end. Blessings, Debbie

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  6. This is simply a gorgeous and thought provoking post!

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  7. Love the analogy. Also makes me glad I don't have any animals. LOL
    I'm sure you wouldn't trade yours for a few more minutes to doze. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  8. Yes, may we always hunger for Him. His Word does taste like honey! :) God bless.

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  9. Beautiful analogy, my friend. I'm glad I only have two animals! :)

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  10. Hungering and thirsting after God. Only those who do will ever be filled. Thanks for sharing. (We still miss our collie.)

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  11. What a wonderful analogy, Rhodema! Thank you for sharing. Love the song, "As the Deer." Happy Valentines Day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  12. So funny thinking of the dog with his head stuck in the container. You did a great job bringing that back into a strong spiritual truth. Well done!

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  13. Amen, I need him desperately. I love those verses.
    Blessings,
    ~Myrna

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  14. Wonderful post! May I hunger for His word like your hungry pets! I just had a visual of my daughter's Great Dane stealing Valentine cookies from the counter. He was kind enough to share them with his little sisters (a cat, a chihuahua, and a white little fluffy poodle mix.) Picture red icing on fluffy white fur and you will get the valentine picture my daughter got. I will amend my prayer to "May I hunger for His word like my daughter's pets hunger for people food, and may I share His word with the others around me."

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  15. Great illustration to bring out a splendid message and make us think. Thank you for posting.

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  16. Such a cute post~and a truly great analogy ~ made me stop and think!


    www.myautumnyears.blogspot.com

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  17. great thoughts of how the Lord wants us to be as we hunger for Him. I am glad that He is faithful even when I am not. May the Lord fill you up and overflowing even beyond your hunger for Him, for that is His delight.

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  18. Thank-you for this. My favorite time with the Lord is in the morning when my day starts. But do I always have this time with him that I desire,no not always, so thank-you for these scriptures.
    Blessings,
    Ginger

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