After two of our dogs died, I thought, no more dogs for
me; it hurts too much to lose them, and I am too old to do this again. But
six months later, my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and to my
surprise (and his), I said a dog. He was not only a rescue dog but a puppy of
all things. After a short while, I did not even pretend not to adore him
because it was apparent; he leaped his way into my well-guarded heart.
At first, I thought I had lost my mind taking home a puppy;
it was like having a toddler in our house again. At the end of my rope, our
daughter suggested we send him to an obedience training camp. We agreed when
the instructor guaranteed our fur baby would be house-trained within a week. We
picked up our puppy a week later to learn that the instructor taught him several
basic obedience commands that we had to enforce for two months. In other words,
we had to learn the techniques to complete his training. Thankfully, after four
weeks, he had the commands down. His basic training, along with our
follow-through, paid off.
How is my dog story relevant? God vividly reminded me that
Paul, a man educated in and a teacher of God’s Word, wanted Timothy to bring
him the parchments when he visited (2 Timothy 4:13). At that point, Paul was in
his late eighties and staring death in the face. Execution awaited him, and he
would soon meet his Maker face-to-face, yet still needed and wanted to read the
Word and hear from God. He was not too old, too knowledgeable, nor too proud about
learning more.
God inspired men, including Paul, stirring them to pen His
valid and life-changing words that guide us to right-living, showing us what we
have done wrong and how to correct those wrongs, truths that teach what is
good. Why? So that men and women of God be complete—thoroughly equipped to
accomplish every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). There are no age limits; old
and young alike can learn and benefit from the God-breathed Word.
We are to read, study, and learn God’s Word so we can
rightly proclaim His truths unashamedly. Whether you are old, young, or
somewhere in-between, stay teachable and counted as a workman approved unto
God.
I learned an “old dog” could learn “new tricks,” but not
without a willing and teachable spirit.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts.