Canny Granny's Advice to the Young

 My little dog is on a lead. I allow him to explore his environment, I allow him to stop and sniff and to meet other dogs.  When we walk along the pathway known as the Old Railway Track I allow him more freedom.  I do not allow him off the lead because he does not know me very well yet and perhaps he would run away and not come back to me and then he would not be safe.  When we walk beside the road I shorten his lead and keep him close to me.  Sometimes he is frightened by big lorries passing by.  Then I speak gently to him and tell him he is safe.   For me all this is a wonderful picture of how God cares for us.  The restrictions he places on us are for our own good and for our safety and even to make us feel safe. He let's us explore life.  He doesn't keep us in a cage.  But he watches over us and gently, but firmly pulls us to himself when we are in danger. When life throws frightening situations our way He is there with a gentle whi...

 Recently I've been taking a little dog for a walk each morning.  He's not mine but I enjoy doing this without the full responsibility of owning a dog. I've learnt many lessons from these walks and I want to share them with you. First of all this little dog needs to be on a lead. This is really for his safety.  Of course I would not be happy if he ran away and so I keep him on a lead.  He pulls against the lead, but if he would just stay in step with me he would not even know that the lead was there.  He would be free.  It seems to me that this is how we are in relation to God.  He puts us on a lead, his commandments and if we keep them we are free, our lives work perfectly,  but just like that little dog we pull away. It is in our very nature to want to break the rules.  If there is a sign saying "Keep off the grass!" What do we want to do? We want to walk on it.  If we see a sign saying, "Wet paint!" we want to touch it. It is easier t...