Gypsy’s Treasures

Keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you.

NICOLE SAT BACK ON HER KNEES to survey her work. Twenty bright orange marigolds now lined the walkway to her front door. As she patted the soil around the cheerfully colored plants, the corner of a foil wrapper caught her eye. She took her spade and unearthed a protein bar still in its wrapper.

Who would bury a protein bar? she pondered as she threw it in the garbage can.

A few days later her son Landon walked in the back door carrying a plastic bag containing the remnants of a loaf of bread.

“Uh, Mom?” he asked. “Why did you bury the bread?”

Landon had discovered the bag, half covered with dirt in their patchy side yard, when he was mowing. He had also found an empty water bottle and some loose magazine pages.

Over the next few weeks, they discovered more and more buried items: plastic grocery bags, a banana peel, an old flip-flop, and a pair of gardening gloves—which Nicole hadn’t seen in months.

Nicole’s family had three dogs—two Yorkshire terriers and a chocolate Lab, Gypsy. Nicole immediately eliminated the Yorkies as suspects; they didn’t even like the feel of grass on their paws. Gypsy!

And sure enough, the next day Nicole watched another caper unfold from start to finish. That afternoon she was throwing what was left of Landon’s lunch into the trash, including an empty Gatorade bottle, when Gypsy ran through the doggie door. As she resumed other tasks, Nicole saw Gypsy sneak the bottle out of the garbage and run back outside.

She then watched from the kitchen window as Gypsy frantically dug a hole near the deck and dropped her treasure inside. After pawing the dirt back over the bottle, Gypsy lay down several feet in front of her concealed plunder.

“You silly dog,” Nicole said and chuckled, completely baffled by her dog’s pirate-like behavior.

Nicole and her family tried to break Gypsy of her burying habit, but the dog was determined to keep a secret stash of miscellaneous household items and trash. As Gypsy got older, she even began burying things inside the house—pushed under blankets, stashed in piles of dirty laundry, or shoved under the sofa.

Over time Nicole realized the things Gypsy buried were items Nicole’s family had touched, eaten, or used. Treats, toys, trash. If her humans had touched it, Gypsy wanted to keep it.

“You keep some funny treasures, Gypsy,” Nicole said one night, rubbing the now white fur on her dog’s muzzle. “But you gotta keep what’s important close to you, huh?”

Nicole cast a glance at the coffee table that held a family photo and her well-worn Bible—the Bible she had treasured and held close for decades.

“Me too, baby girl,” she said, warmth spreading through her heart. “Me too.”

PAWS & PONDER . . .

Why is it important for us to keep and treasure God’s Word? By keeping his Word in our minds, we are able to treasure it in our hearts. What are some practical ways you can keep Scripture in your mind and in your heart this week? What is one verse you will commit to memory this month?

Paws & Pray

Father, thank you for the gift of your Word. When I read it, I believe you are personally speaking to me. Give me a passion and the desire to keep your words in my mind and in my heart. God, help me treasure your words above all others.

Don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them.