Breakin' the Rules

I’m eating on the couch.

           Weight control experts tell you not to.

It’s pizza.

          (Utterly sinful)

At three in the afternoon.

        I skipped lunch, but Dr. Phil just came on TV in one of those sound bites and asked, “How’s that working for you?”

I’m in pajamas.

        Pain control specialists insist on clients getting dressed each day. It's been an especially brutal week, so I threw that rule out the window, too.

The dogs are begging.

        (Hey—I’m not the only one who breaks rules!)

I sent them outside. They promptly obeyed….

        Temporarily. Soon there were three thwaps in close succession. The doggy door’s sound tattled on their return.

The Dog Whisperer makes that Pssst!  Noise to make dogs behave.

       I make a staccato “Aht” sound. It works most of the time, but maybe if I copied Caesar’s recommendation, I’d get better results.

 I sent them out once again.

They obeyed long enough for me to have a few more bites. Then, thwap, thwap, thwap!

    Now each dog is employing an entirely different begging tactic:

        Dottie is “sitting pretty” a yard away, being “reward” worthy

        Rocky is lying on the floor in his usual spot…licking my foot in the animal kingdom’s version of bootlicking. I’m not wearing boots. I’m barefoot and ticklish.

        Midas is resting his chin on my knee, his big, brown liquid eyes pleading silently.

So you've probably guessed it:

I broke more rules.

        I didn’t Pssst or Aht!

        I gave them each a piece of pepperoni.

                (So much for not giving dogs people food.)

God sits on His throne.

         I hope it's as comfy as my couch

         It wouldn’t be heaven if there weren’t pizza.

         I have no idea what He wears.

But we all long for His attention.

         Some rely on good behavior.

         Some try to curry His favor with good deeds.

         Some unashamedly beg.

And in His mercy, Christ beckons and says, “Come.”

       Because we broke the rules, He came.

       He fulfilled the rules.

       Now He rules.

           Nothing we do can add or buy our way through heaven's gate.

             He's pleased when we behave in a manner that reflects that we are His.

             He's able to work through us when we dedicate our hands and hearts to Him.

             He's delighted when we look to Him in adoration, hope, and trust.

So here I am, basking in the glory of the renewed awareness of God’s incredible, eternal love. All because of breakin' a few rules and sharin' a slice of pizza with my furry friends.

We all love you.

Cathy, Dottie, Rocky, and Midas, all with pizza breath.