Guard Your Boots by Rachel Flores

I come home from work to see a tail-tucked Leila creeping up to me. “Leila…” I say in my stern voice, although I’m not even sure what she’s done yet.  As I walk into our bedroom I see it.  The newest canine addition to our family has lovingly chewed up my favorite pair of boots.  Are you serious?  I want to yell at her and tell her she ate my favorite shoes, but I don’t because:

1. I realize she is a dog and can’t understand English
2. Yelling won’t bring back my boots which now have a heel dangling by a thread
3. It’s my fault

Leila has already chewed up a bag, Kleenex, socks, and a book.  So, I should know by now to close the doors when I leave and put up anything that has been dropped on the floor. Yet somehow I get so lazy that closing a door becomes too much, simply because she hasn’t chewed anything up recently.  

It’s this way in my life when it comes to temptation. Sometimes I get so comfortable thinking “I’m safe, how could Satan get to me?” and I leave my most prized things unguarded… my heart, my tongue, my patience, you name it.  Then I’m surprised when they are attacked. God has already told us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”  So I should take Him up on that offer, for the rest of my life.  I want to be more intentional in defeating Satan every day and not leave myself unguarded due to laziness.

Maybe also close a door or two every day to protect the rest of my wardrobe.

.

***