here’s something about having a huge, galumphing labradoodle around the house that helps to put everything into perspective.

It’s Christmas, so she’s happy. We’re home, so she’s happy. She got nicely groomed, so she’s happy. Another day she badly needs a bath and smells like the garbage, so she’s happy. We’re out on the porch, so she’s happy. We’re in the house, so she’s happy. We go for a walk, so she’s happy. We remember to feed her, so she’s very happy.

The only issue Scoutie has in her life is when we go out for – in her judgement – too long. Sometimes she’ll let us know how serious a mistake we’ve made by stalking and then killing some handy inanimate object around the house. Maybe a cereal box that was left untended on the counter. Or, a box of Kleenex. Or, at this time of the year, a Christmas present that contains (under thirteen layers or more of wrapping) some morsel of chocolate (yes, she can detect the presence of chocolate within a two-mile radius with that size-35 honker of hers).

Or Scout will gently open Rebekah’s purse, carefully unzip (I kid you not) each interior container looking for contraband, then empty the purse on the middle of our bed, making sure not to damage the purse itself. And then – this is the best – she’ll wait for us to come home and immediately put herself in time-out. She’ll lay down in the appointed place and in the time-out position (prone, on her side) but she can’t stop her tail from beating the floor involuntarily because she’s so pleased with herself.

INNER PEACE: The secret of Scout’s inner peace? She’s attached. What that means, according to a friend who is very familiar with attachment disorder issues, is that Scout is completely secure in the knowledge and the expectation of the love and care she receives from me and from Rebekah.

If Scout were a Christian (and I suspect, deep down, that she quite probably is) she would have that same deep and abiding sense of peace regarding attachment to God.

That’s the gift of Advent hope. It’s not an “If I’m lucky I’ll be OK” kind of wishful thinking. But it’s an, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

I know absolutely that I am accepted, forgiven, and eternally secure in the faithful love of God.

And it is because of that sense of knowing that Advent Hope translates into Advent Peace (Peace is next week’s emphasis, at least it is in my book!).

DOGism: So why the dog story? Well, first off, she’s adorable. Who wouldn’t want to click on a picture of a gorgeous Labradoodle and maybe read the rest of the post? Then, and this is the bottom line for today, there is a lot to be learned from the simple trust with which Scout Labradoodle engages life.

Owning that kind of assurance is not out of reach for any one of us. We simply have to choose to believe, make the decision to follow, and place our faith in the God who made the unfathomable decision to – first – believe in us.

Hope, Peace, Love and Joy – DEREK