Puppy Lesson Number Four…

Lick Everyone You Love…Often!

  Joey is a licker! The more he likes you, the more licks and he likes just about everybody so he is a busy little guy. Our son’s Boxer, Marley, is also a licker and I gotta be honest, when I first met her years ago and she wanted to lick me to death, I was not at all sure I liked the experience. But it wasn’t long before I came to understand that this was her way of showing her affection and excitement to be with me. In fact, now I know that if she doesn’t greet me with a few licks I know something is terribly wrong. Either she is sick, annoyed with me or the day is just out of sorts. This is Marley in the picture below:)

Joey is the same way. This morning his owner was leaving the house and wanted to say goodbye to him. Do you know he turned his head and wouldn’t give her a licking kiss. Ouch! He knew she was leaving and he didn’t want her to and let her know it! Well, with a little encouragement they made up, but he’s been sulking ever since she left. No worries though, her licks are coming as soon as she walks back through the door!

Of course, I am not suggesting we go around licking each other…GROSS! But, it wouldn’t hurt for us to show appropriate yet enthusiastic love to one another and more often! Really, how dare we let a day, a week, months and even years go by without expressing heartfelt love to those God has ordained to be in our lives.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 15:12 (NASB)