Runt of the Litter

“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) She was the tiniest puppy of the litter. Her brothers and sisters would push her away and Mama wouldn’t let her eat. One of the kids in the house tried to feed her with a doll bottle, but that didn’t work out so well. When I first saw this skinny little “runt of the litter,” I wanted her. It didn’t matter that she was malnourished, thin and kind of sickly — I still wanted her! After the “rescue operation,” and when this impoverished puppy finally made her home at our place, things were very different. The first thing that changed was that somebody wanted her. I’d fallen for that little dog big time! The second thing was that somebody cared and looked out for her. Now there was Puppy Chow, vet shots, and her own little mattress. That third change was that, for the first time in her life, she was special to someone! It reminded me of how God relates to us. Firstly, the Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God loved us. For people who grow up in a home where there is no one who really cares for them, the concept of love may be a distant or distorted ideal. That is very sad, but there is good news. Secondly, God cares for us. We read in 1 Peter 5:7, “He cares for you.” It’s a truth that I’ve had to learn over and over in my life — that God cares for me! Finally, God’s Word really brings out the thought of you and I being very special. Psalm 139:14 says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made: your works are wonderful.” That says that I am special! That little puppy went from being rejected to being queen of the house. In God’s way of seeing us, we are loved, cared about, and very special. Thank you, Lord, for loving and caring about me! — Milly Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org