E-votional - Man's Best Friend
September 20, 2001
Verse:
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner."

Genesis 2:18 (NRSV)

Thought:

    Man's best friend. For too long that has been the identity of the dog. Why, and who came up with that identity is beyond me. Sure it is true that God did create the animals in hopes that man would find companionship, but the needed companionship did not come from an animal, it came from within, full of beauty, grace, it came as a woman.

    Hear the Good News, from Adam's ribs, in his sleep, God gave to us a perfect gift. A gift that Adam had never known, nor could have expected. Sure, there was the new creation, never before seen, heard or perhaps even dreamt up. At first, a he was waking, I am sure he was surprised at the sight. But something different happened, he felt something different from when he saw the rest of creation, his heart, something began to happen there. Before this point, Adam did not know love. He knew things, and I imagine, he did not even know loneliness, but very quickly things changed. Physically they now share something, but more importantly, they now shared something emotionally. Desire, connection, these were just elements of what it was they now shared, for they now knew Love. Funny thing, when they had their first child, they experienced something new again.

Prayer:  

    Gifts, Father, gift we receive from you, most often when we do not expect them. The gift of love, of husband and wife. The gift of love. Help me to honor this gift You have given to me, the gift of my spouse, my children. Let them not only be a blessing to me, but to others. Give them a pure heart, the heart of a servant, the heart of You. Thank You for all that You have done in my life and all You will continue to do, for I ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.