Fork In The Road Music » dogs

Lessons Learned from My Dogs- #1 Let It Go

Russell Martin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:18:56 +0000

I have 4 dogs and a cat. Each one has their own personality and quirks and I love them all. The amazing thing is that for the most part they all get along, even the cat. What has suprised me though is how, by watching them interact, I have learned some really great lessons.

I thought I would take a chance to break from my usual posts about chords, or music, or worship, to share some of these insights with you from time to time.

This evening we were sitting in the living room watching tv. As usual Jaeda our Cocker Spaniel was on the back of the couch, Ultra had claimed the love seat and Honey, the Lab/Greyhound was laying in the middle of the floor chewing on a nylabone. That’s when Mia, the fourth dog, walked right up to Honey, put her mouth on the nylabone and took it away. Mia walked away about five feet, laid down and began to chew on her recently stolen treasure.

I know if that had happened to me I would have done one of two things. Either gone over and taken it right back, or gone and complained to a higher authority about how something had been taken from me and it wasn’t fair.

So what was Honey’s response? Honey looked at Mia, then got up, walked over to the “toy” box and picked out another chew toy. She did not growl, she did not whine, she just moved on. She could have held on and fought but she just let it go.

What did I learn? Sometimes it’s best to just let it go. I recall this verse from 2 Timothy.

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:23″

As I look through my day I can see countless times where I get into a discussion or argument that really doesn’t matter in the end, when the best thing for me to do would be to get up, go find something else, and just let it go. Earlier in the verse 4 it says:

“No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.”

Before getting involved in one of these discussions, or arguments I really need to ask, “Does getting involved with this have anything to do with what God is wanting me to do? Does it please Him?” This question even cuts out those things that may not be harmful, but just are not relevant to me or my ministry or my calling.

So my question to you. How much of your day is spent in discussions, arguments or quarrels when it would really be best to just walk away and let it go?

Why is this important to do?

This Makes Me Laugh Everytime

Russell Martin — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 06:00:47 +0000

We were sitting in our living room watching the Polar Express on tv. The part came up where one of the characters was having his beard pulled and he sounded like a Caribou. 3 of our dogs could care less.. but one dog was at least a little curious.

Curious Dog from russell martin on Vimeo.

This is not the first time she has reacted to a sound in that curious manner just the first time we could catch it on video. I’m not sure why but it just makes us laugh each time she does it. So waht simple things make you laugh?

A Time to Be Still

Russell Martin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:23:12 +0000

As I sit and type this post I can look over to my left and see a big brown and white dog name Mia. Mia is about two or three years old, still very much a puppy. Still being very puppy like Mia is constantly running, and jumping and licking. She is constantly on the run barking at squirrels outside or inside playing with the other dogs, biting on their back legs, or playing tug of war with the various toys. She also enjoys jumping up in your lap whether you expect it or not.

A few months ago I found out a secret about Mia. If I would grab her collar and hold her still for 30-60 seconds she will sit down, lay down and often go to sleep. If I make her be still, she stops running, stops jumping, stops licking, relaxes, calms down and rests. It’s like she needs a reminder to slow down, but once she gets that reminder, she is good to lay down and take a nap.

Today I got such a reminder myself. Apparently there was an extra large amount of pollen in the air over the past two days and my allergy problems went on overdrive. I had to take today and not do anything but rest. So I stayed in bed. I didn’t get on the computer, or go into work, or answer the phone, or return text messages, or create songlists, or play the piano, or read or even watch tv. I just laid down and rested. It was hard at first because I thought that I could “make it through” whatever was going on at the church, or that I really could wash some clothes or do something around the house. But what I needed, and what I got was rest.

My hope is that in the future I will not have to be reminded to rest. That I will take care of myself and go to sleep at a normal time, do things that are relaxing and be productive with my time so that I don’t have to be working all the time. My hope for you is that you can do the same.

No related posts.

so I haven’t written for a while…

Russell Martin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:19:00 +0000

A wise person once told me never to start your blog, after you have not written for a while, with the words… “so I haven’t written for a while” or something similar. The truth is that many things have kept me busy and I haven’t had time. Well that’s not exactly true. If I really sit and think back on my day was I really all that busy? Wake up in the morning and get ready. Make lunch for my wife (how sweet am I) and get her off to work. Make sure the dogs have water and are safely confined in the kitchen. Go to work. Work all day long. Come home. Eat dinner Go to bed!
I could be fooled in to thinking that all of that takes up all of my time but if I really sit and think about it there are pockets of 15 minutes here and 30 minutes there scattered all through the day. Like when I finish working on something and it’s 10 minutes before lunch so I really can’t get into another project. Or when I come home and my wife is still at school for another 30 minutes. Maybe it is not that my time is not all occupied, but that it is occupied with the wrong things. Television? Purposeless internet surfing? Wasting Time?
I guess there is time to write, to share my thoughts, to rejoice in the highs and lows of the day. And really it’s not just about blogging. It’s also about prayer.
It is so easy to do the same thing in my prayer life. I can get into thinking that I don’t have time, that there are soooo many other important things that have to go on that I don’t have time. Maybe I could find some time that exists already.. maybe I should cut out some things that aren’t all that important. Maybe my next conversation with God shouldn’t start off with the words “So I haven’t talked to you in a while…?”

What about you. Do you find it hard to set aside time to pray during your busy schedule? Or if not.. How is it that you find time to spend with God during the day? Please comment and share your ideas.