Stop Eating My House Already!

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Lk 13:18-19 Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and 'the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'"

Well, Monnie the Menace strikes again. Sigh.

I guess I wouldn't be this irked if it was the first time. Or the fifth. Or the 15th. But we rounding up near 50 by now, I'd guess.

And so the same familiar story unfolded Sunday afternoon. We arrived home from a Buffalo swim meet after my sweet goddaughter/niece kindly spent most of her weekend tending to Monica Arleen Kimerer: beloved Boxer and chewer of all things great and small, only to find that Monnie once again wreaked house havoc.

"Oh, hi sweetie pie! Mommy missed you so much!" I said, smooching her snout as she greeted me from the passenger seat after we'd pulled into the garage. "Um, Mommy's not going to feel that way in about a minute," said Kerry, who had gone ahead of me into the house.

And there it was; the trail of carnage which had been my autumn candle-holder wreath. Monnie casualty #umpteen dozen. Grrr.

Usually I laugh it off but this time I was truly ticked. "Get her out of my sight," I said very calmly. She was banned from treats the rest of the night and I kept giving her the cold shoulder despite her incessant begging for attention.

"Nope, not this time," I said, turning my head. Hmpf.

But then, there she was so remorseful and sad. Finally, I relented and gave her a hug. She slept at my feet all night.

It got me to thinking that humans can be that way, too. Reckless and thoughtless and making a total mess of things. But, you know what? When they are truly sorry and contrite and beg forgiveness, well, shoot, how can you say no? Especially when we are all Monnie the Menace sometimes, Capisce?

​Forgive; put yourself in their shoes; love. Even if someone eats your favorite scarf, you dig? #Forgiveness #Compassion #Empathy

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