The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:16-17 (NIV)
We have been trying to teach Lucy not to get on our bed anymore. While it was not a popular idea, I made the decision after spending a sleepless night being bitten by fleas. Our other Doberman seems immune, but Lucy is usually covered in the insects. I do not know if it is her skin type or coloring, but despite all sorts of treatments, when you roll her over on her back and search her belly, she always has fleas. It may be a few, it may be a lot, but she is a flea magnet. I don’t know where she picks them up because we have treated the house and yard, but still she carries them indoors. I finally had enough itching and scratching, on both her part and mine, and made the new rule. Lucy has slept on our bed since she was a puppy, so she does not believe me when I say, no more dogs in the bed! What I say does not seem to matter to her. She ignores my commands, and every time I turn around she is up there again. I’ve scolded her enough that when she hears me coming, she knows I expect her to get down. Sometimes, she jumps off the bed. As soon as I leave, she is back up there again. I try to catch her unawares, but her hearing is very good. Many times, she just lays there looking at me with sad eyes. “I belong here, don’t you know,” she says. I bought her a nice big dog bed and laid it on the floor next to ours, but she doesn’t think it is good enough. She is a princess and nothing I can say will convince her otherwise. I wish I were so firm in my belief about myself. God says I am His daughter, a child of the King. That makes me a princess. Yet, I let the world tell me differently. I don’t conform to its image. I am not rich or famous. I have not climbed the corporate ladder or been elected to office. I am not skinny and sleek or fashionably put together. I have never had plastic surgery or botox. My hair is turning grey, and my glasses sit cockeyed on my nose. I am plainspoken and often politically incorrect. I listen to the television, the fashion magazines, the newspaper and media, and know that I am not at all special. Like Lucy, I must learn to tune out the ones who try to tell me I am not of worth. In God’s eyes, I am His unique creation. Made exactly in His imagine and how He designed me to be. He sees me as a princess. Fleas, fussing, even spankings will not drive Lucy from her rightful throne. No matter what anyone tells her, Lucy knows she belongs in my bed. That is her entitlement. I should be so unswerving in my position as the King’s daughter as well.
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