LOLLIE AND THE BIBLE

by Diane S. Spears, Ed.D. Christian Education

Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. 

Revelation 4:11 (KJV)

Many years ago we were blessed to find a very young, beautiful English pointer puppy on the roadside. Someone had dumped her with an open can of dog food, and she had eaten down as far as her tongue would go. She was a delight and a wonderful surprise her entire life. We named her Lollie.

Our house was on a busy street, and our yard was not fenced. Lollie seemed to understand the boundary of the property edge and the end of the driveway. All my husband had to do was tell her, "No!" at the end of the driveway as cars zoomed past. We soon learned that we didn't need to worry about her going astray or getting hurt in the street. She was also understanding of our older dog needing a companion, and she allowed him to share her doghouse at night. It was amusing to see both of them climb into a doghouse that looked like it could only hold one.

Lollie did have a weakness, however. She would raid the trash can in the open carport/garage if there was something very fragrant in it. One of our sons would constantly forget and place a food wrapper in the trash can, and Lollie would find it, tip the can and tear the wrapper. She was constantly chastised for it, but it was too much of a temptation for her - her nose always won. We even prayed with her! One day, we came home, and Lollie didn't greet us as usual. We wondered where she was and called her. As we walked through the carport toward the house we saw Lollie HUGGING the house, slithering around the corner trying to get to her doghouse without being seen. Then we saw why - the trash can had been raided. We had to laugh out loud, because she was the perfect example of Proverbs 28:1: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Lollie also demonstrated the scripture in Philippians 4:11b: "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. She entertained herself by chasing butterfly SHADOWS on the ground at home and chasing sea gulls on the beach. She seemed to understand a boundary on the beach also. The first time we turned her loose on the beach she took off chasing sea gulls parallel with the surf, and we thought we might not get her back. We called and called until we realized she could not hear us because of the beach noise. Suddenly, she turned at about 50 yards and came running back, racing past us after gulls going the opposite direction. She stopped about the same distance from us as if she had a built-in 50 yard odometer, wheeled around and repeated the whole process several times until she was panting, coming to rest by the truck. Many other incidents with Lollie gave us great pleasure. She unfortunately contracted heartworms during the time when heartworms began spreading in Texas. The vet treated her, but her heart was damaged, and her activities had to tone down. When we took her to the beach, we wondered if she would try to chase the sea gulls. She seemed to understand her limitations and didn't even try. She turned her attention immediately to the jumping mullet in the surf and allowed the waves to move and support her weight as she entertained herself.

I learned from Lollie. She could not change what had happened to her, and she could have moped around looking pitiful. She simply changed her focus and appeared quite content. It was a healthy change for her, and she lived longer than expected. If only we all could be as content as Lollie was in whatever state we are in. I've been had pity parties from time-to-time over things I can't or don't yet know how to change or am waiting for a change. I have to remember that self-pity is not healthy, because it leads backwards and into dark places. I am reminded that the Lord is my Banner, my Fortress, my Defender, my Provider, my Protector, my Father, my Source, the Great I AM - my EVERYTHING. He is in charge of my life, and I am more than a conqueror in HIM. I have every reason to be content. I do believe that Lollie was given to us as a beautiful example and a great pleasure to us. What a blessing!