Isaiah 30:18 – Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! (NIV)

Every day, my seven canines get a treat to help them maintain strong and healthy teeth. They never receive the treat at the same time on any given day. I hand them out when I fill up their food bowls for the evening meal. Sometimes, I do this early in the day, sometimes later.

My seven canines used to be eight, and it was this eighth one that reinforced a valuable lesson for me, day in and day out, the older that he got. By the time that he was twelve, he was totally deaf. By the time that he was fifteen, his sight had greatly deteriorated. His cataracts were so thick that I doubt he was able to see very much. He was such a happy little fellow, though, always full of joy right from the first day he came to live with me, and still quite spry at the age of sixteen.

Every day when it was treat time, even though he was deaf and basically blind, he always seemed to know. I would reach for the biscuits from the cupboard and turn around, and there would be seven dogs gathered in expectation. I would dole out the goodies one by one, until I had only one left, which was Casey's. And where would number eight be? Always sitting, waiting patiently in complete trust behind everyone else. He never barked or whined or tried to get his first, even though it would have been easy for him to walk under the bigger dogs' legs to get to the front of the line. Rather, he had learned over the years that he was never forgotten; he was never left out; he would receive that for which he hoped.

Casey died just before Christmas, shortly after his sixteenth birthday. He suffered a stroke during his sleep, and though it did not take him, the time had come to say goodbye.

Now, every day when I turn around with the treats in my hand and see all my friends gathered in anticipation, I remember the wonderful gift that Casey left me: the trust factor. And I remember that the Lord longs to be gracious to me, for the Lord is a God of justice, and blessed are all who wait for Him.

Perhaps today, you may be feeling left out or forgotten. The Lord seems to be blessing everyone else but you. If so, fear not; instead, embrace Casey's gift: the trust factor. Trust in the promises and the goodness of God. Wait patiently for Him, and you will not be disappointed with the blessing that He has in store just for you.

Prayer: Father God, thank You so much that You long to be gracious to us, Your children. Thank You that You show compassion and are a God of justice. Thank You that we are blessed when we wait for You, for never will You leave us or forget us. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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