dogs – Grits with Grace

Family, friends, life, priorities, Scripture, travel

Dog Beach

Posted on October 8, 2025October 6, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Southwest Florida has gotta be a great place to live. A few years back, for the first time in a long time, my wife Judy and I headed back to Southwest Florida for a visit. I am a Florida boy—born and raised in the Northeast corner of Florida in Jacksonville. Judy is a Georgia peach raised in Valdosta. If you’ve driven to Florida down I-75 you have been through Valdosta. So being from Florida and close to Florida, it is naturally a place we like to visit.

We spent the week down in Fort Myers Beach and had a great time. Several times we hopped in our rented Mustang Convertible and drove around. Fort Myers Beach is built on a narrow strip of land and there is only one main road that runs through it. We would turn out of our condo and either go left or right—there were no other options.

We would see these places where dozens of cars would be parked beside the road and of course that got a rise in our curiosity. We just had to know what all those people were doing. Did they know something that we needed to know—to see? Well, one Saturday evening we decided to drive down to one of those spots. Earlier that day it was just packed with cars, and we imagined it had to be a beautifully secluded beach. It might even be worth exploring the next day. So off we went. It was raining a little and when we neared the spot where there had been dozens of cars and now there were only a few. Paradise was within our grasp.

We parked in the small sand parking lot and noticed there was a sign that said Dog Beach. We figured that was the name of the beach. Maybe it was shaped like a dog or dog’s leg or something. Even without an umbrella we started walking. It was a rather small path, wet from the rain. Then we came to an opening to what appeared to be a large bay. We met some folks who were heading back to their car, and we asked where the beach was.

They told us we would have to wade through the water, follow a small path and then go around a small peninsula and there would be a beautiful beach. So…off we went wading through water, carrying our shoes, and walking a path through the woods. Along the way, we came upon a few folks heading to their cars and they all had dogs. How about that? We normally aren’t slow to figure things out but today wasn’t one of our better days. We kept walking till finally we came upon a small, not particularly beautiful beach. It wasn’t on the Gulf but rather on the bay. There was a person with, you guessed it, a dog. There was also a couple out in the water with, you guessed it, a dog. Hmmmm…I was starting to connect the dots.

I asked the couple with the dog if they were from there and they said no. And I asked them about what was so special about this place—that we had seen dozens of cars here and thought it must be special. And it was…if you owned a dog. You see, it was in fact a dog beach. All those dozens of cars with many more dozens of people were there for one reason—it was a place where their dogs could be dogs. That was it. It was only paradise if you had a dog that enjoyed playing in the water. And, for a lot of people, that hit the spot.

I left that day only a little impressed with the beach and more than a little wet and that was ok. What made that beach special wasn’t for me, but it was for a lot of other people. It taught me fresh and anew that the beauty of something really is in the eyes of the beholder. With that came the renewed lesson that I should be slow, real slow, to judge another person’s opinion. Hmmm…that just might be a game changer.

I know now that when I go by the Dog Beach and see all those cars that there are a whole lot of people just beyond the tree line that love their pups. And being a dog lover who just happens to be dog-less for now, that is pretty awesome. Instead of going by and thinking “Look at all those beach lovers,” I will go by and say, “Look at all those dog lovers.” Maybe before we assume or think we know all about a circumstance or relationship, we need to explore and figure it out and we may come to a whole different conclusion.

Need some help? Well, the One who made us all has it all figured out. In fact, He reminds us in the Bible that every person is made in His image, and He wants each of them to come be a part of His family. And then, He made that possible by sending His Son Jesus to pay for our sins. When you find yourself befuddled with someone or a particular situation, just check with your Dearest Daddy…leave it resting with Him. You can because He has this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, life, school days, Scripture, sovereignty of God

Satan, Sally & Ruff

Posted on April 2, 2025March 30, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Everybody needs a dog. Now I know that is a generalization, but the fact is dogs can add a lot to life. Sometimes that “lot” is good and sometimes not so much. The bottom line is that dogs are kinda like people. They are all different, they all have different personalities, and they all have different names.

When I was growing up, I can remember three outdoor dogs that we had. Momma and Daddy had an indoor dog named Penny. She was a, uh, well, overweight chihuahua mix and was pretty much the queen bee of the house. But through the years that I remember we had three other dogs and all three were as different as night and day. The first one had a very unusual name.

Now, first remember these were real outdoor dogs. We are talking their dog food was whatever scraps were left over from dinner and they never got a bath. So regardless of what adjectives I use to describe them, you would never find them at a dog show. The first one was a beautiful, red, long hair, Irish setter. I’m not sure where we got him, but I can assure you he was free. We definitely did not pay for dogs. Besides the fact that this dog was really pretty, his name set him apart. His name was, wait for it, Satan. Yes, folks, we actually had a dog named Satan. Even as I type this, I am saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” But…I am not.

Satan, the dog—not the king of evil—didn’t get his name from his behavior but rather from his red coat. You know how we like to dress Satan (the king of evil not the dog) in red? Well, I guess Momma and Daddy decided it seemed appropriate. I know when I am introduced to someone, sometimes I hear their name and say, “Well, he or she looks like a Judy or a Sam. Well, Satan, the dog, with his red coat fit the bill. What a crazy name for a dog.

The second dog that holds a spot in my dog hall of fame was a beagle named Sally. Now Sally, I think, is a kinda happy name. I have a hard time imagining a stern-faced Sally though I am sure there are plenty out there. Well, Sally, the dog, had a bubbly personality and had the unique ability, wait for it, to smile. Now, as Jerry Clower the comedian, used to say, “if I am lying, I am dying.” You could walk up to ole Sally and give her a greeting and she would turn her upper lip right up and smile at you. Bring her supper and up the lip would go. She was a nice contrast, as you can imagine, to, uh, Satan (not the king of evil but the dog.)

The third and final dog that fills my memory of dogs in my growing up years was a rough and tumble, short legged, who knows what breed or breeds, dog we named, wait for it, Ruff. Our dog Ruff didn’t stand out with a shiny red coat nor could he smile. He was just Ruff. If he was a human, he probably would have driven a big Harley hog, wore a leather jacket, and smoked cigarettes. He was rough. He may have had small dog syndrome because truthfully, he was short and stocky. But, regardless, he was a good dog, and he was loyal. He ruled the backyard and protected us from all the bad guys.

Three dogs, three distinct personalities and characteristics and three names that kinda, sorta, fit them. Back in the old days of the Bible, names were a really big deal. You would name your son or daughter based on your hopes and dreams for them. Sometimes it worked out…and sometimes, well, it didn’t. I know when Joseph learned that Mary was going to have Jesus, he had some inside help on the name. I mean an angel shows up and says, “Hey, Mary is going to have a baby and you are to name Him Jesus because He is going to save the world.” Now that is one important name.

And guess what? That is exactly what He did. His destiny was to die on a Roman cross to pay for the sins of the whole world—mine and yours and well, everybody’s. When you hear the name of Jesus—think Savior because that is what He is. His name is special, very special, and is one that should not, ever, be thrown around lightly. Guess what? God likes to give names to His kids too. In the last book of the Bible, it says that God will give us a new name written on a white stone and no one will understand the name but one who gets it. Until then, well, He just calls us son or daughter. I like that. And as His son or daughter, we have the assurance that no matter what comes our way, we can count on Him. We can know for sure, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, life, love, loving others, Scripture, Trials

Skunked

Posted on June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

The little stinker was not welcome. A while back we went down to visit our daughter and son-in-law down by Kentucky Lake. We really went to see the grandkids, but we won’t tell them that. The place where they live is just beautiful. Close to the lake and surrounded by beautiful woods, it is the kind of place drinking a cup of coffee in the morning was made for. Of course, at this time of the year, everything is lush and green. Gone is the bareness of winter as the time for things to sleep was replaced by a time of new life.

Because they are in a forested area there is plenty of wildlife around. It is not uncommon to see deer feeding down by the tree line and birds of every sort. Up the road a piece is a herd of Bison, a few horses, and cattle. They have a couple of dogs (well had…Rupp has since gone to doggie heaven) too, which adds to the mix. Oh, and then there was the unwelcome guest. Two or three days before our arrival, my son-in-law spotted a skunk in the backyard. They were hoping that he was just passing through, but apparently, he kinda likes the place. Even when they don’t see him, they know he is around by the pungent odor that he carries with him.

Their two dogs, Rupp and Callie, seemed to have a real affection for the skunk. They can’t wait to run down to the woods to try and find their new friend. Despite all their efforts, they keep running and looking and one day, well, its gonna happen. Saturday morning during our visit, there was a “close encounter of the skunk kind.” Rupp is the much more obedient of the two dogs. He will generally come when he is called and while he and the skunk are pals, they are not on a first name basis. Callie on the other hand has gone over the edge. That morning, Callie took off and either met the skunk or came close because she came back wearing some of his perfume. It wasn’t a direct hit, but there was an aroma.

She came in the house and ran into the master suite and soon it wasn’t “sweet” any longer. What she apparently loved to roll in was, uh, not so pleasant to us. In fact, both occupants of the bedroom were up and outta there. Now personally, Callie didn’t smell that bad to me. Either my smeller wasn’t as sensitive (no COVID, thank you) or I quickly got used to it, but regardless it wasn’t a big deal. Well, Callie ended up banned from the yard forever (except on a leash) and Jen ran her through the equivalent of a dog carwash. She smelled a lot better. Hey, no harm, no foul.

So that evening, after driving back home, I put on the same pajama shirt that I had worn that morning and proceeded to study my sermon. As I sat at my desk, I noticed a faint but familiar odor—it was the offensive perfume. Apparently, there was an odor after all and later when my nose was more awake, it became evident. I changed shirts and threw that one in the wash. Hopefully by the time we visit again, Mr. Skunk will be history.

You know I was surprised to smell the odor on my shirt that evening. That morning, I didn’t smell a thing and that night it was clearly obvious. What was the difference? I think there was enough odor in the air at my daughter’s house that my shirt simply smelled like everything else. I grew too accustomed to the odor. The offensive smell became “normal.” I have a feeling that may happen more often than we realize. It has nothing to do with skunks, but everything to do with our “skunky” or sinful actions.

If we are not careful, we become too accustomed to our harsh words, or our negative mindset or our unkind actions. And, because they are part of our “normal” we never ever know it. But remember this…those around us know it and Someone even more important knows it—God. The best way to fix the problem is to live in such a way, that that kind of “normal” is never normal. Just like a fresh environment revealed the odor in my shirt, we should allow our environment to be so pure that anything stinky will become readily apparent.

One time King David of Old Testament fame got more than a little “skunky” and spent most of the rest of his life trying to get rid of the stench. He prayed a lot during those days and one of his prayers went like this, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” That’s a good prayer for sure. And, by God’s grace, he was made clean. In fact, he was known as a “man after God’s own heart.” So, when you get “skunked” just take it to the Father and rest assured that He can handle anything and everything. He’s got this—even our stinky sin. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, life, prayer, Scripture, Trials

Jesus in the Pantry

Posted on April 26, 2023April 25, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him.” Daniel 5:6

“It” came out of nowhere. Well, as you know from a recent Grits adventure, I recently came face to face with a couple of dogs who were out looking for lunch…and I was on the menu. It had been a while since I have been genuinely afraid—genuinely fearful for my well-being but that morning I was. I learned that he-man or not, all of us are susceptible to fear. Just a few minutes ago, I was talking to a friend about something that happened to his wife this past Sunday. She was run over by a mad Momma cow, and it is only by the grace of God that she was not more seriously injured than she was. She was over 100 feet from the calf and the cow but for some reason the Momma cow chose her to attack.

We heard about the attack during our Family Gathering on Sunday afternoon at church. We stopped and prayed then. As he told me the details, I could just feel how frightening this was. Well, God stepped up for me Saturday morning and God stepped up for the both of them on Sunday afternoon. He is a caring and loving God who stands by in the wings just waiting for us to holler for help. Oh, and it gets better. Even when we don’t know to holler—He still responds. That is just the kind of God He is.

I received a devotional email the other day that made me smile and chuckle while at the same time reminding me of just how blessed we are to have a Dearest Daddy like Him. The story goes like this. Little 5-year-old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper one evening. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup. But he didn’t want to go in alone. “It’s dark in there and I’m scared,” he told her. Now before we go any further with this tale, I want you to know that I can identify with Johnny. I can remember being afraid of the dark when I was a kid. In fact, sometimes it’s still just a little scary to walk into a dark building at night—especially a church!

Well, let’s get on with the story. His Momma asked again, and yet he still delayed. Finally, she said, “It’s okay – Jesus will be in there with you.” Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came. So, he said, “Jesus, if you’re in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?” Ok, you gotta love it.

Believe it or not there is a story in the Bible about crazy, overcoming fear. There was a king, an ungodly king at that, and God decided to send him a message. He did so by allowing a human hand to appear out of nowhere and write a message of judgement on the wall. Daniel 5:6 tells us of the king’s response. It says, “The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him.” Can you imagine that?

Not all fear is bad. Sometimes fear can keep us from walking dangerous paths that can lead to disaster and regret. The Bible teaches us that the fear of God—the reverence of God—is the beginning of wisdom. Remember fear God and fear nothing else. Whether it be a vicious pair of dogs or a crazed cow, His peace and strength is more than enough for us. In the midst of the chaos, if we can listen, we will probably hear the Whisperer whispering, “Fear not my child—I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

One Saturday Morning

Posted on April 24, 2023April 23, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Psalm 56:3

It was a dark and stormy night. Well, it really wasn’t but what happened was scarier than any dark and haunted mansion. It was Saturday morning and after some debate I decided to go and do my walk and exercise thing. I have several different paths that I walk, and I decided to walk the bike trail. I drove to the trail head, parked the car, and started out—enjoying the beautiful spring morning and flora that soon engulfed me. I made it about a quarter of a mile and things went south…very south.

The bike trail runs next to a highway but is still in the woods. After about a quarter mile, there is an area that they cleared to build the entrance to the Middle School. That is where it happened. As I emerged from the wooded area, I looked across the highway and there were two dogs, one tan, and one black and they were trotting along on the other side of the highway. My first thought, was, “Oh look…there are Bugs and Bugsy…two pups out for a morning stroll. They spotted me, and immediately headed my way across the highway. I still wasn’t alarmed but I should have been.

After the two had crossed the road, they came…not toward me but at me…and began not just to bark but to stalk. This was not a case of two dogs barking at a stranger…it was a case of two dogs bent on attacking and biting this stranger. They were about four or five feet from me, viciously barking, snarling, and lunging at me, and I decided to do the “Hey bear.” They say when you see a bear, you should holler and most likely the bear will run. Well, I hollered, and the two dogs didn’t run—they only got madder.

Walking backward, because when I turned my back their attack got even closer, I tried to sooth them with my best “I like dogs” voice. It didn’t help…the attack continued. At this point I was genuinely afraid. I believed, no, I know, if somehow I were to stumble, it wouldn’t be pretty. While several cars slowed down, none stopped. One truck did pause in the middle school entrance but didn’t offer assistance. I found out later the owner, who was supposedly looking for the dogs, drove a white truck. If it was the owner…he didn’t stick around.

I love to watch all these nature shows, you know, the one where the lions chase and eat the antelope? Well, and I am not kidding, I suddenly had an, “I know how you feel moment.” I continued walking and shooing while they continued their relentless attack. Finally, out of the corner of my eye I saw a limb laying but the bike trail. I was able to quickly break part of it off and use it against the dogs. While I didn’t, couldn’t hit them it was enough to get them to back off. They lunged a couple more times and finally stopped. Shaking and with a heart rate off the scale, it was finally over.

I continued down the trail for the rest of my walk and found a large stick just in case the two attackers were still around. Apparently, they had moved on. It turns out I was not the only one to see the dogs and another lady had an encounter in the same area, at just about the same time with the same two dogs. Fortunately, she had a can of pepper spray that saved her. You may have wondered if needed could you cause harm to a living thing to protect yourself. I now can answer that question for myself…yes.

Well, I was grateful that this didn’t have a harsher ending. I did end up cutting the palm of my hand as I tried to break the smaller branch off the bigger one. It will probably leave a scar to remind me of the events of that morning. It will remind me that sometimes the most random of decisions can have big consequences. Nothing that happened that day was my fault—it was just life and perhaps the responsibility of an irresponsible dog owner. It will remind me that though I was very frightened, and I was, that God was faithful in protecting me. I really didn’t have time in the middle of the fray to pray or say anything, but He was still there. I am grateful.

Finally, I learned that an attack can come from the most unlikely of places. I like dogs…a lot. Nothing warned me that these were bad dogs, but I learned that not all dogs are good dogs so while I will still love dogs…ones that cross a road to attack me are probably not my friends. Smile. Oh, and one more thing. I learned and experienced another instance when my faithful Dearest Daddy watched over me. What is written in the Book is true, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” Amen. I also learned fresh and anew that no matter what…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel

Beached

Posted on September 13, 2022September 12, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Southwest Florida has gotta be a great place to live. A couple of years ago, for the first time in a long time, Judy and I headed back to Southwest Florida for a visit. I am a Florida boy—born and raised in the Northeast corner of Florida in Jacksonville. Judy is a Georgia peach raised in Valdosta. If you’ve driven to Florida down I-75 you have been through Valdosta. So being from Florida and close to Florida, it is naturally a place we like to visit.

We would see these places where dozens of cars would be parked beside the road and of course that piqued our curiosity. We just had to know what all those people were doing. Did they know something that we needed to know—to see? Well, one Saturday evening we decided to drive down to one of those spots. Earlier that day it was just packed with cars, and we imagined it had to be a beautifully secluded beach. It might even be worth exploring the next day. So off we went. It was raining a little and when we neared the spot where there had been dozens of cars and now there were only a few. Paradise was within our grasp.

They told us we would have to wade through the water, follow a small path and then go around a small peninsula and there would be a beautiful beach. So…off we went wading through water, carrying our shoes, and walking a path through the woods. Along the way, we came upon a few folks heading to their cars and they all had dogs. How about that? We normally aren’t slow to figure things out but today wasn’t one of our better days. We kept walking till finally we came upon a small, not particularly beautiful beach. It wasn’t on the Gulf but rather on the bay. There was a person with- you guessed it, a dog. There was also a couple out in the water with, you guessed it, a dog. Hmmmm…I was starting to connect the dots.

Family, forgiveness, Grace, life, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Skunked

Posted on June 14, 2022June 9, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

The little stinker was not welcome. A while back we went down to visit our daughter and son-in-law down by Kentucky Lake. We really went to see the grandkids, but we won’t tell them that. The place where they live is just beautiful. Close to the lake and surrounded by beautiful woods, it is the kind of place drinking a cup of coffee in the morning was made for. Of course, this time of the year, everything is lush and green. Gone is the bareness of winter as the time for things to sleep was replaced by a time of new life.

Because they are in a forested area there is plenty of wildlife around. It is not uncommon to see deer feeding down by the tree line and birds of every sort. Up the road a piece is a herd of Bison, a few horses, and cattle. They have a couple of dogs too, which adds to the mix. Oh, and then there was the unwelcome guest. Two or three days before our arrival, my son-in-law spotted a skunk in the backyard. They were hoping that he was just passing through, but apparently, he kinda likes the place. Even when they don’t see him, they know he is around by the pungent odor that he carries with him.

Their two dogs, Rupp and Callie, seem to have a real affection for the skunk. They can’t wait to run down to the woods to try and find their new friend. Despite all efforts, they keep running and looking and one day, well, its gonna happen. Saturday morning during our visit, there was a “close encounter of the skunk kind.” Rupp is the much more obedient of the two dogs. He will generally come when he is called and while he and the skunk are pals, they are not on a first name basis. Callie on the other hand has gone over the edge. That morning, Callie took off and either met the skunk or came close because she came back wearing some of his perfume. It wasn’t a direct hit, but there was an aroma.

You know I was surprised to smell the odor on my shirt that evening. That morning I didn’t smell a thing and that night it was clearly obvious. What was the difference? I think there was enough odor in the air at my daughter’s house that my shirt simply smelled like everything else. I grew too accustomed to the odor. The offensive smell became “normal.” I have a feeling that may happen more often than we realize. It has nothing to do with skunks, but everything to do with our “skunky” or sinful actions.

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

What’s in a Name?

Posted on March 24, 2022March 22, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Satan. I’m sure it sounded logical at the time. Everybody needs a dog. Now I know that is a generalization, but the fact is dogs can add a lot to life. Sometimes that “lot” is good and sometimes not so much. The bottom line is that dogs are kinda like people. They are all different, they all have different personalities, and they all have different names.

Now, first remember these were real outdoor dogs. We are talking their dog food was whatever scraps were left over from dinner and they rarely, very rarely had a bath. So regardless of what adjectives I use to describe them, you would never find them at a dog show. The first one was a beautiful, red, long hair, Irish setter. I’m not sure where we got him, but I can assure you he was free. We definitely did not pay for dogs. Besides the fact that this dog was really pretty, his name set him apart. His name was, wait for it, Satan. Yes, folks, we actually had a dog named Satan. Even as I type this, I am saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” But…I am not.

The third and final dog that fills my memory of dogs in my growing up years was a rough and tumble, short legged, who knows what breed or breeds, dog we named, Ruff. Our dog Ruff didn’t stand out with a shiny red coat, nor could he smile. He was just Ruff. If he was a human, he probably would have driven a big Harley hog, wore a leather jacket, and smoked cigarettes. He was rough. He may have had small dog syndrome because truthfully, he was short and stocky. But, regardless, he was a good dog, and he was loyal. He ruled the backyard and protected us from all the bad guys.

Guess what? God likes to give names to His kids too. In the last book of the Bible, it says that God will give us a new name written on a white stone and no one will understand the name but the one who gets it. Until then, well, He just calls us son or daughter. I like that. And as His son or daughter, we have the assurance that no matter what comes our way, we can count on Him. We can know for sure, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, life, prayer, thankful, Trials

Skunked

Posted on May 11, 2021May 10, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

The little stinker was not welcome. A couple of days ago we went down to visit our daughter and son-in-law down by Kentucky Lake. We really went to see the grandkids, but we won’t tell them that. The place where they live is just beautiful. Close to the lake and surrounded by beautiful woods, it is the kind of place drinking a cup of coffee in the morning was made for. Of course, this time of the year, everything is lush and green. Gone is the bareness of winter as the time for things to sleep was replaced by a time of new life.

Because they are in a forested area there is plenty of wildlife around. It is not uncommon to see deer feeding down by the tree line and birds of every sort. Up the road a piece is a herd of Bison, a few horses, and cattle. They have a couple of dogs too, which adds to the mix. Oh, and then, there was the unwelcome guest. Two or three days before our arrival, my son-in-law spotted a skunk in the backyard. They were hoping that he was just passing through, but apparently, he kinda likes the place. Even when they don’t see him, they know he is around by the pungent odor that he carries with him.

She came in the house and ran into the master suite and soon it wasn’t “sweet” any longer. What she apparently loved to roll in was, uh, not so pleasant to us. In fact, both occupants of the bedroom were up and outta there. Now personally, Callie didn’t smell that bad to me. Either my smeller wasn’t as sensitive (no COVID, thank you) or I quickly got used to it, but regardless it wasn’t a big deal. Well, Callie ended up banned from the yard forever (except on a leash) and they ran her through the equivalent of a dog carwash. She did smell a lot better. Hey, no harm, no foul.

That evening, after driving back home, I put on the same pajama shirt that I had worn that morning and proceeded to study my sermon. As I sat at my desk, I noticed a faint but familiar odor—it was the offensive perfume. Apparently, there was an odor after all and later when my nose was more awake, it became evident. I changed shirts and threw that one in the wash. Hopefully by the time we visit again, Mr. Skunk will be history.

You know I was surprised to smell the odor on my shirt that evening. That morning I didn’t smell a thing, but that night it was clearly obvious. What was the difference? I think there was enough odor in the air at my daughter’s house that my shirt simply smelled like everything else. I grew too accustomed to the odor. The offensive smell became “normal.” I have a feeling that may happen more often than we realize. It has nothing to do with skunks, but everything to do with our “skunky” or sinful actions.

If we are not careful, we become too accustomed to our harsh words, or our negative mindset, or our unkind actions. And, because they are part of our “normal” we never even know it. But remember this…those around us know it and Someone even more important knows it—God. The best way to fix the problem is to live in such a way, that that kind of “normal” is never normal. Just like a fresh environment revealed the odor in my shirt, we should allow our environment to be so pure that anything stinky will become readily apparent.

One time, King David of Old Testament fame, got more than a little “skunky” and spent most of the rest of his life trying to get rid of the stench. He prayed a lot during those days and one of his prayers went like this, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” That’s a good prayer for sure. And, by God’s grace, he was made clean. In fact, he was known as a “man after God’s own heart.” So, when you get “skunked” just take it to the Father and rest assured that He can handle anything and everything. He’s got this—even our stinky sin. Bro. Dewayne

*A special thank you to Ellie Grace, (granddaughter) for making today’s graphic-great job Ellie!

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Satan, Sally and Ruff

Posted on March 11, 2021March 10, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

My name is Sue. How do you do? Everybody needs a dog. Now I know that is a generalization, but the fact is dogs can add a lot to life. Sometimes that “lot” is good and sometimes not so much. The bottom line is that dogs are kinda like people. They are all different, they all have different personalities, and they all have different names.

When I was growing up, I can remember three outdoor dogs that we had. Mama and Daddy had an indoor dog named Penny. She was a, uh, well, overweight chihuahua mix and was pretty much the queen bee of the house. But through the years that I remember we had three other dogs and all three were as different as night and day. The first one had a very unusual name.

Now, first remember these were real outdoor dogs. We are talking their dog food was whatever scraps were left over from dinner and a bath very rarely. So regardless of what adjectives I use to describe them, you would never find them at a dog show. The first one was a beautiful, red, long hair, Irish setter. I’m not sure where we got him, but I can assure you he was free. We definitely, did not pay for dogs. Besides the fact that this dog was really pretty, his name set him apart. His name was, wait for it, Satan. Yes, folks, we actually had a dog named Satan. Even as I type this, I am saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” But…I am not.

Satan, the dog—not the king of evil—didn’t get his name from his behavior but rather from his red coat. You know how we like to dress Satan (the king of evil not the dog) in red? Well, I guess Mama and Daddy decided it seemed appropriate. I know when I am introduced to someone, sometimes I hear their name and say, “Well, he or she looks like a Judy or a Sam. Well, Satan, the dog, with his red coat fit the bill. What a crazy name for a dog.