Hot Dog!

My child, eat honey; it is good. And just as honey from the comb is sweet on your tongue, you may be sure that wisdom is good for the soul. Get wisdom and you have a bright future.

TEN-YEAR-OLD LIBBY placed five little white cones a foot apart in a straight line. At the end of the line she stacked bricks several feet apart and laid a broom across them. Finally, she laid her old Barbie Pop-up n’ Play tunnel at a ninety-degree angle to the broom.

“Perfect!” she proclaimed, running into the house to retrieve her dog, Daisy, and a red cup filled with diced hot dogs.

Using masking tape to attach the red cup to her belt, Libby was finally ready to begin Daisy’s agility training. And with the smell of hot dogs in the air, the little white Havanese was more than ready!

Daisy bounced with excitement as Libby attached her pink leash to Daisy’s collar and led her out the door.

Libby couldn’t wait to teach Daisy how to do the agility course she had set up. After watching an agility show on Animal Planet, Libby had been inspired to create one of her own. And although Daisy had never even been to obedience school, Libby just knew her dog could be the best agility dog in the world.

The energetic little dog yipped and jumped, trying to reach the cup of hot dogs dangling from the waistband of Libby’s shorts.

“You gotta earn your treats, girl,” Libby explained. “First, I’ll walk you through the course. And each time you do something right, I’ll give ya a piece of hot dog. Soon you’ll be able to do the course without me having to show you. Okay?”

As if understanding the instructions perfectly, Daisy barked and sat at attention.

“Good girl,” Libby laughed, giving the dog her first meaty morsel.

Holding Daisy’s leash up high, Libby began to walk Daisy in and out of the cones, giving her a treat at every zig and zag. She then built up enough speed to jump over the broomstick. Libby was so thrilled by Daisy’s flawless jump that she gave her a handful of hot dog pieces. Libby crawled through the tunnel first, then went back and carried Daisy through. Although she hadn’t gone through on her own accord, Daisy was still rewarded with a treat for her trouble.

Libby and Daisy went through the obstacles at least two dozen times, with one break for Libby to refill the hot dog cup.

After an hour, Libby ran inside to ask her family to come out and watch Daisy—the world’s greatest agility dog—complete the course all by herself.

Libby watched with pride as her little dog zigzagged around the cones, leapt over the broom, and scurried through the tunnel before running straight to Libby to receive a handful of meat.

Libby’s dad laughed as Daisy sank to the ground, head between her paws, belly spreading out beneath her.

“Well, Libby girl, you did it!” he said proudly. “You taught Daisy how to do an agility course.” Then he added with a chuckle, “And what a meat coma feels like! How many hot dogs did you feed that dog anyway?”

Libby grinned coyly, shrugging her shoulders. “As many as it took for her to learn.”

PAWS & PONDER . . .

In what ways is wisdom good for the soul? How have you found this to be true in your own life? How does Proverbs 9:12 (see devotion 10) relate to Proverbs 24:13-14? Where does wisdom begin?

Paws & Pray

Lord, I long to be a person who is known for godly wisdom, wisdom that begins and ends with you. Help me to crave you and your Word more than anything else. Make your Word tastier to my heart than honey—or even hot dogs!

A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.