That's why I don't let you lick me...

I was walking to my neighbor's house to get something and was accompanied by my dog, Daisy. She is a 9 year old Jack Russel and is probably the best dog I have ever had. She is always great with Isaiah, never showing any signs of aggression to him or anyone in the family for that matter. Her tail is constantly wagging, constantly reminding me that she is happy to see me. She keeps the rodent population around the house down and gladly finishes off any scraps we have left over. She takes walks with me when I choose, plays with Isaiah when he wants to, and listens when I give her commands. She is a great dog.

About halfway on our trip, Daisy starts coughing and hacking. Then, suddenly she throws up right beside where I am walking. "You ok?" I asked looking down at her. She looked up at me, tail wagging so hard the body is shaking as if to say, "I feel better now!" We continued on to the neighbor's house, dismissing the incident as something bad she ate. On the way back, Daisy did something that I have seen many dogs do before and to this day it confuses me. As we approached the place where she had threw up, she slowed down and began to sniff her puke, followed by her licking it, then eating some. "Daisy!" I said in a rather disgusted voice. She simply looked up at me with the same brown eyes, tail still wagging as hard as it could. "That's why I don't let you lick me." I told her convincingly.

The incident reminded me of a Bible verse I had memorized as a child because I thought it was funny.

"As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness." - Proverbs 26:11

The fact is we are all going to be foolish at one point or another. We are all going to make mistakes. We are all going to do something stupid. We are all going to throw up at some point. It happens. The key is, once you do it, don't go back to it. Don't be a fool. Repeating your foolishness is disgusting. Learn from your mistakes, don't go try to eat them again!

In Christ,

jon walton

Calling the Cows...

I live on a small farm next door to my Mother & Father in law on one side and my Brother and Sister in law on the other. We all get along well and help each other often. Having family like that is great. My Father in law is gone on vacation and he asked me to feed the cows while he is away. I agreed and every evening this week I have been putting out grain for them.

Now, the cows need to be there when I put out the grain. There is no feeding trough, so the grain is dumped straight on the ground. If the cows aren't there when you put the grain out, it will ruin overnight on the ground and the cows won't eat it when they come check. Why is this a problem? Well, my father in law works nights. I work days. These cows are accustomed to eating in the morning. I am feeding them in the evening. Cows, being creatures of habit, don't naturally come up to the feeding area in the evening. So, you have to "call" them.

I am sure there are several "calls" for cows, but as I grew up I learned one from my grandmother. I don't know that I can type out the sound I make, but if you ask me sometime I'll say it for you. At any rate, when I got ready to feed the cows, I would call them. The first night, no cows came at the initial call. In fact, I am sure these cows were all together somewhere wondering what this crazy person making an odd sound was. So I walked to the edge of the field with the feeding bucket in hand, still making the call. As the cows noticed me, more importantly the feeding bucket, they began to run to me. I walked them to the feeding area, still making the call.

The second night, three of the nine cows came when I called. As they came, they "moo'ed" telling the others "DINNER TIME!" By the third night, these cows had learned when they hear my call food was on its way. They had learned my voice and what it meant.

Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me."(John 10:27) When the cows didn't know my voice, they didn't know I was wanting them to come and eat. They didn't understand what I was saying. As I taught them, they understood and followed. Are we really so different? For those of us who know our Shepherd, do we know His voice? He calls us. He warns us when we are going into danger. He has given us His Word(the Bible) to learn His voice and His calls. Have we taken advantage of that? Don't ignore His calls. He may just be wanting to feed us.

In Christ,

jon walton

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It Gets Better Every Year...

There are few things that get better with age. I mean really think about it. Your tires on your car wear out with age. You need to buy new shoes when the ones you have on begin to wear holes in them. Bread will mold as time passes. Milk will turn bad with age, even turn solid given enough time! Technology gets outdated almost before it comes out now and the longer you wait to upgrade the bigger the leap is. Time causes most things to get worse, even our bodies. As we age we get hurt more easily, we need more sleep, and eventually we just wear out. Time works against most things.

There are a few things that get better with age though. Cheese, for example, when aged properly gains flavor, texture, and a richness that can only come with time. Reputation can improve with time, if the right actions are taken during that time. Wisdom comes with experience, and you must be around long enough to have experiences. There are a few things that time improves.

Tomorrow, January 9th, 2010 something wonderful happens in my life. I have the opportunity to celebrate 11 years of marriage with my wife. I can say without any reservation that my life with Missy gets better every year. God has blessed me with an incredible woman. She is an amazing helpmate, incredible mother, gifted teacher, God fearing Christian, and loving wife. One of the most amazing things I ever discovered about her is that she reads the Bible specifically in search of how to be a Godly wife. I am blessed beyond what I deserve to have her in my life. I look forward to another year with her. Heck, I look forward to our life together! If there were anyway to truly describe her, it would be this:

Who can find a capable wife?
She is far more precious than jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.

She rewards him with good, not evil,
all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
and works with willing hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from far away.

She rises while it is still night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her servants.

She evaluates a field and buys it;
she plants a vineyard with her earnings.

She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.

She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.

She extends her hands to the spinning staff,
and her hands hold the spindle.

Her hands reach out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.

She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known at the city gates,
where he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes and sells linen garments;
she delivers belts to the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and loving instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the activities of her household
and is never idle.

Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:

"Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,
but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

-Proverbs 31:10-31

Thank you for the last 11 plus years Missy. Thank you for all you have done for me, our family, and the Lord. May you, my wife, be abundantly blessed each and every day.

In Christ,

jon walton

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