There is even a YouTube series of Denver the naughty lab who is always caught. Denver’s “dad” busts her, and Denver squints her eyes and dog smiles to show how sorry she is. It’s hilarious.
Charlie is no different. When he does something wrong, I just ask, “Did you do this?” He immediately reacts with his head down and a low wagging tail. He comes as close to me as possible and tries to put his head on my lap.
It’s so sweet, it’s almost impossible not to laugh. He wants to make things right as soon as possible, so that harmony can return to his simple doggy life.
Of course, pardoning him his easy, too. His sweet dog face and intense desire to be forgiven melt my heart and all is well in no time. I can’t stand to see my dog so sad to see me upset!
We don’t really have that reaction with one another, though, do we?
Without a doubt, forgiving a dog can be much easier than forgiving a person. I mean, whoever heard of a dog who had malicious intent and a manipulative mind? Even when a dog attacks it is either because it was poorly trained, or being threatened.
People, on the other hand think things through. People are intent on hurting us. People manipulate and abuse us so that they can get what they want no matter the cost. Right? Maybe not.
One of the ways confession is supposed to help us is to try and see things from the sinner’s perspective. The sinner being us, of course.
When you get right to it, you have to ask yourself, are people inherently bad or inherently good? From our Christian point of view, we say they are inherently good. How is that, you ask? It is because we are all created in the likeness and image of God. Every. One. Of. Us.
Certainly we all have original sin, and therefore a tendency to make poor choices for our own promotion, but at our core we still have the love of God within us.
What if when someone wronged us, we would think about this? How would the world be different if instead of counting our hurts, we counted our blessings? What if we would think of our own sins before we worried so much about the sins of others?
Perhaps, the world would look a little bit more like the Kingdom of God. And, after all, isn’t that what we are supposed to be striving for?
How could we learn to be more like Charlie and readily seek forgiveness?
It starts with realizing that God is not like people. Jesus came so that we might know the Father. Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy.
Jesus seeks to heal us, to repair our broken relationships, and to bring peace to our lives. Jesus shows us what forgiveness is. Jesus shows us love.
Trying to live our lives according to God’s will can be hard, but it is also freeing. When we let go of the things that hold us back, we become happier and closer to God’s love.
Our Catholic living is supposed to help us with that. Going to Mass gives us food for the journey, and God’s word to help us on our way. Reconciliation is a time to realize that we have hurt others, and need forgiveness for that. The Sacramental life is supposed to open our lives to God’s grace and help us to do and be better.
I love my dog, but not as much as God loves us. I always forgive Charlie when he is bad, and God always forgives us. Jesus tells us that to show God we love him, we have to love one another. That takes a little forgiveness now and then.
Right, Charlie?
~ Christy Cabaniss
