John worked in an animal rescue shelter, and he loved the dogs that were brought in as strays or dogs that the owners could no longer care for. He would feed the dogs and take them out for walks. It didn’t take long for the new dogs to love him too.
John especially liked the shy dogs, and he would patiently work with them until he won them over. But he just couldn’t seem to make friends with Tilly. No matter how kindly he talked to her, she wouldn’t even look at him or come to the front of her cage when he offered to take her for a walk. However, each day he would toss a treat inside her cage.
Then one day after he had walked the dog in the cage next to Tilly’s, she came to the front of her cage and looked at him as if to say, “Is it my turn now?” John opened her cage and she let him snap a leash on her collar. Then she followed him outside.
John was so happy that she had finally warmed up to him. He took her on a thirty-minute walk, and it wasn’t long until she was licking his hand and letting him scratch her behind the ears. Tilly was finally trusting John as her friend. Love and kindness had finally won her doggy heart.
That’s the way the Lord Jesus seeks to win our hearts. We might not want Him as part of our lives, but He just keeps giving us treats that we don’t deserve and talking lovingly to us in various ways. He isn’t pushy but gently tells us that He loves us so much that He died for us. Finally, He wins our hearts, and what a happy time that is for both the Lord Jesus and us when we finally trust in Him.
ML-07/3/2011