Does a dog know right from wrong??

Well, it may be confusing if the dog belongs to a large family ...and has a half dozen members of the family attempting to train the dog.

But, I do believe the dog understands what pleases a person ...call it what you will, dog sense, or whatever, it seems to be often superior to our common sense.

And children seems to understand the dog in some ways better than we do.  Of course they like to get the dog to fetch a stick, or do simple tricks.  It seems the dog gets more attention than anyone else at times, so it's a way the child gets to associate with the dog and experience equal value in the eyes of everyone. (Though it is also equally so ...that the dog gets much less attention than anyone else at times.)

It's cute the way children will defend the dog too ...almost as if they are in some way communicating to the parents that they are not as wrong or guilty as they feel parents make them out to be either.

Just recently, I was accused of defamation of character.  Our dog pooped in the driveway, anyway, that's the word we use, as we aren't so readily eager to define other words for it ...that they may perhaps hear in other much more crude areas of context.  I have no desire to brag about my knowledge on these things ...but I do know the difference between squirrel droppings and those of our dog.  

Anyway, this is what was said:

Me: "Summer pooped in the driveway again!"  (Somehow I feel I must validate myself by these grand discoveries.)

Son: "How do you know it was Summer ...it was probably a squirrel."  

We actually can learn something from all this ...but, at this moment I can't remember what it is.

A dog wags it's tail ...and searches for affirmation.  

We do a different sort of dance, more as in dancing around to avoid the realization of, and focus of ...what we've often done wrong.  We aren't like the dog ...simply looking to find pleasure in the fact that perhaps pleasure is found in us.

We often don't look so much to please God ...we are driven to please ourselves, and somehow feel we are pleasing others by pleasing ourselves (as that seems to be what everyone else is doing ---and we find some acceptance in that).

I said there was something to learn from all this ...but I couldn't remember what it is.

Perhaps it was something I didn't need to learn because I already knew.  Our children are so loving ...even to defend the dog.  They would defend the squirrel also if they felt a need to.  Children have such a wonderful positive way to look at things ...the only common way they aren't positive, is when they doubt their own parent's love.  

I can't foresee  those circumstances happening ...but, I hope ours never doubt our love.

And I hope they never doubt God's love either.

I believe if we say "No!" ...it should mean NO!! If we don't mean NO, then we shouldn't say it.

God said "No!" ...so, are we trying to follow God's example??  Are we to respond by instructing in a way we were taught was important ...and still is??

It depends how we say it, and why, of course.

I know a man who lost his wife ...and being somewhat alone, yet he still had family.  He didn't want to distance them in any way ...so, he just watched everyone have fun and be happy.

He let his grandkid play freely ...and though I don't know all that was utilized to create those marks all over the walls, if only the walls could talk!!

He painted the walls, without saying anything about the behavior that led to the necessity of the new layer of paint.

And the marks returned.

And another layer of paint was applied.

And the marks returned.

I feel that "No!" means "No!"  But, what about those who don't say anything??  

I agree that there are multitudes of times when it's better to say nothing, but in the long term it may not be so good also doing nothing.

Of course, that doesn't rule out the fact that we can change our mind ...and with that, I believe we should explain why.

It may suffice to say, "Because I said so!"  It may be okay to say it a time or two, but not when communicating opposite messages.  

I know how a very loving Grandpa must feel towards his grandkids.  I am a Dad, and when I watch our own kids running and jumping as they play so energetically and free-spirited. They look like happy lambs ...or baby deer.  And though they are no longer babies, they are dear to me.

And neither do I want to restrain that joy ...yet, I would not be able to just stand by, and ignore ...if their free play extended out into someone else's property, in a carefree and possibly destructive sense.

And having fun with someone else's property without permission should not be allowed either.

Nor should feeling free to have fun include doing anything you want ...especially if it includes poking fun at someone, having fun at their expense.

Yes, these are just my opinions ...so what about how God feels about it??  We are not given an exact outline on how to raise our kids ...just certain principles.

I think about how God created the angels ...and what restraints were placed upon them.  With their extraordinary abilities, and the vastness of our universe ...were there any limitations??

I imagine the angels being so free.  I've looked at birds soaring in the sky ...and often wondered what it would be like to be free as a bird. Wouldn't I imagine the angels be more spectacular ...and more free??

Yet, there seems to be a concept that holds for most situations. By elevating ourselves, aren't we creating a relationship between our position and that of another?

We don't all seem to have equal opportunities ...yet, we must hold to the condition that we are all created equal.  What does that then mean?

We should not think ourselves better than another.  We should not feel obliged to give all that we have ...so they can squander it, and perhaps exhaust our resources that we could use towards future giving.  We should value them as human beings, who can be told of their great value to God, and how they can have a share in His kingdom.

We should not put ourselves and our feelings ahead of someone else.  So, I don't think we should teach our children to think first of themselves, and their feelings.  Though, they should not think of themselves less or last either. 

Giving is good, but it is more than material things.  I want to give my children the understanding of respect for others, and when they put themselves in mind it should be with regard and consideration of how it affects others.

One third of the angels did not grasp this idea ...and with that in mind, I'm glad I was not one among the angels.  I am not always humble, but I am constantly reminded that I should be.  And when God sets limits, and says "No!" ...I think it wise not to challenge that, and without doubt unwise to attempt to change that.