Just Love – Devotion 105

Leo has a way of capturing our attention.  He loves to whine, which really is annoying.  But for him, it works.  If he whines enough, we will do whatever he is asking.  Most of the time, he just wants us to acknowledge he is there.  He doesn’t really want anything at all.  He has been trained to let us know when he needs to go out by ringing a bell.  That is great until he randomly rings the bell just to see if we will get up and come to the door.  He doesn’t want to go outside.  He just wants to see what we will do.  So you can imagine how much fun it is when he rings the bell and whines at the same time.  It can be a bit much.

The thing about Leo is that he is so cute.  So you want to be mad for going to the door for the fifth time in a row – and all he wants is your attention.  He then goes and sits down on his end of the couch on his favorite blanket and just looks at you.  Any frustration you have seems to just melt away.

You can see Leo has us wrapped.  He keeps everyone in check in the house to make sure he is the center of attention.  He gets special treatment because you cannot resist his love.  Leo doesn’t do anything but love us.  He doesn’t buy us presents.  He doesn’t bring any income into the household.  He simply just takes.  But the love he gives is priceless.

Leo teaches me that love really does change things.  It doesn’t take money or gifts to show someone love.  Sometimes it is simply being present.  Sometimes simply knowing that my attention is valued is enough.  Knowing that when I have had a bad day, Leo is waiting with his tail wagging and his eyes of excitement can change everything.  What might this world look like if we simply loved, no strings attached?  Maybe that’s something to try today.

Focus Scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery