Labrador Retriever. The very nature and purpose of the dog is in the name. Labrador's retrieve.
Nash Ganache Marmaduke entered my world in February of this year. I had a very specific vision for a him when I picked him out of the litter. I wanted a retriever. I had visions of me sitting in an adorondak chair, with a "Chuck It" in my hand, happily launching tennis balls from the ease of my sitting position, while my labrador retriever raced through the yard to fetch the ball. I also had some ideas of putting him on the leash and him and I becoming running buddies, but mostly, I knew I wanted Nash to fetch like a freaking champ.
I think my lab is broken. A few months into puppy ownership, I realized there was a problem. My lab does not retrieve. I didn't get it. I would tell him, "Nash, it's in you're name, you're supposed to run and get stuff and bring it back to me. It's in your genes. It's what labs do. That's why I picked you. I figured fetching was a guarantee. I was just kidding when i told everyone you were going to be my running buddy. In reality, I wanted to be launching tennis balls with my "Chuck it" from a chair!" He never seemed to understand what i was saying. His first language must be Spanish.
I had to come up with a plan. I began to start small to help teach my dog to fetch. Through the power of treats and a little patience, Nash began to improve. He was never great, and he never ran after anything, but he would mosey over and lazily pick up whatever i threw to appease me for a treat. My Lab was in the beginning stages of doing what he was designed to do.
And then one day, While mumbling "my dog is never gonna fetch like a real lab, I'm gonna legally drop retriever from his name" I threw the frisbee for Nash ... and as the frisbee and my words flew through the air, Nash began to run, and then he began to sprint and it seemed he was gonna outrun the frisbee. He went right to it grabbed it in his mouth and began running at break neck speed back to me! I lost it. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be one of those weepy proud parent types. I was jumping up and down, hands in the air, screaming "My labrodor's retrieving! My laborador's retrieving!"
And that's when it hit me. "This must be what God feels like when I live out of His design for me." This must be what He feels in those rare moments, when I live as He intended and created. He created me for a purpose, He gave me gifts and skills to use for His Kingdom. He put a new nature in me to love, show mercy, forgive, hope, to be patient and kind. Its in me to do, just as it is in Nash to retrieve. I just don't always live it out. Sometimes, like my lazy lab, I choose to ignore my God-given nature and calling and do the opposite of what He created me to do and be. But, when I do, when we do begin to live as He designed us, what joy, excitement and weepy pride He must feel for us, His children.
