Perceptions

We have two dogs. Demi is a medium-size, blonde dog who runs in circles and is somewhat frantic. Regent is larger and calmer, but likes to annoy Demi. Demi often leaves part of her dinner so that she can growl at Regent when he walks by. One evening after dinner Regent and Demi both lay down. After a few minutes, Demi got up and moved to a spot further away. Suddenly she realized that Regent was now closer to her food! He hadn’t moved, but now he was closer than Demi and she was very upset.

Perceptions are as important as expectations. When Demi was closer than Regent to the food, everything was fine. But when she moved, he became a threat. But he did nothing. The difference was in Demi’s perceptions. She perceived him as a threat because she was in a different place.

Dogs are wonderful. They can teach us so much about who we are as people. Their feelings and motivations are right on the surface where we can see them. How many conflicts or misunderstandings exist because of altered perceptions? How often do we misunderstand another person, not because they have done something, but because we have changed?


Mal 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.