Clean Paws: Lessons from a Street Dog

Clean Paws: Lessons from a Street Dog

There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger

and directs us to hidden treasure.

Otherwise how will we find our way?

Or know when we play the fool?

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

Keep me from stupid sins,

from thinking I can take over your work;

Then I can start this day sun-washed,

scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

These are the words in my mouth;

these are what I chew on and pray.

Accept them when I place them

on the morning altar,

O God, my Altar-Rock,

God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Psalms 19:11-14 MSG

When I walk my dog Aubergine each morning, I like to clean her paws off at the end of the walk. As a former street dog, she sees no need for someone touching her paws, no matter how much mud she walked through from the recent rains. Even the treats aren’t motivation enough but she at least puts up with it. 

I want her paws cleaned so she can jump up on my bed and nap while I get ready for work. I want her to be clean so she can actually be closer to me, because we have a close bond. I want her to start the day scrubbed clean of grime. I want Aubergine to start the day fresh, like this psalm says. 

In the same way God washes us clean so we can be close to him. He clears away sin so we don’t have a hesitation in talking to him about our lives. He forgives us for stupid sins so we be right beside him, sharing our lives with him. He is patient with us, just like I am patient with Aubergine and her dirty paws. 

Reflect: How are you encouraged because God wants to be close to you? What sins do you want to talk to God about so you can start the day fresh? 

Prayer: God, thank you for making a way for our hearts to become new and clean. Thank you for Jesus and his salvation. Thank you to wanting to be in a relationship with each of us. Let us rejoice that you’re cleaning us off to be closer to you. Amen. 

May you feel God’s presence with you,

Sarah Visser-Kincaid