Guinea Pigs, Brain Infarctions and Other Fun Things

Ok ladies, I was supposed to have this devotional up yesterday. However, my brain had a slight problem and well, I forgot. There...see? Confession is good for the soul. I feel better already. In other news...I've been thinking a bit (not too much or I might cause my brain to have an infarction...see above paragraph) about Otis. Ah, sweet Otis. Yes...I see that hand in the back...oh...who is Otis? Why he's Kayleigh's guinea pig of course. He's a sweet, furry little bundle of fun who loves me immensely. He just doesn't realize it yet. Prior to last week, Otis lived in a small little one-bedroom cage in my daughter's room. Although the small cage provided shelter and comfort, we felt he needed a little more space to relax. After all, he has a tough life. He has needs. I completely understand this. He has recently been relocated to a high-rise condo in the kitchen, thanks to some very old friends of his. (THANKS DEWAYNE!!!) Oh boy that thing is awesome. I come home in the evenings and head straight for Otis' penthouse. The only thing on my mind is to pet him and feed him and call him my Squishy. In other words...I just wanna show the lil' dude some love. Now, you would think that after all the immense blessings that have been bestowed on Otis, (Luxury apartment, food, water, warmth, housekeeping service, etc...) he would return the love. As a matter of fact, one might assume that he would jump through hoops and perhaps even learn to play fetch. But no. The moment I come towards him he tenses up and if I reach my hand in to scratch his little ears or to stroke his furry back he just runs away. He's afraid of me. He has no idea that I'm the one who blessed him, that I've got his needs all provided for, and that the only thing I'm trying to do is show him how I feel about him. Now, he doesn't act this way if I have food. Quite the opposite. He comes right to me, oinking his pleasure and eats out of my hand. I've been a bit frustrated by this behaviour, I must admit. But after playing Chase Otis Around The Penthouse for the 1,067th time the other day I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me saying, "This is how you treat me sometimes, Shayne." "I want to bless you with My word...My teachings...My Presence...yet you run from Me. I want to tell you how much I love you...yet you hide behind work, television, church, praise team practice, and even your children so as to avoid spending time with Me. I want to show You a more excellent way of living, but you only want material blessings." Well I can't tell you ladies how that velvet covered rebuke has humbled me. To know that I have the gratitude level of a guinea pig is, well...embarrassing to say the least. I'm no better than Otis. BUT...unlike Otis...I have a hope and assurance in Jesus Christ. I can repent, accept His forgiveness and move forward. 'Cause He loves me like that. For a more biblical example of how this ingratitude hurts God...read the book of Hosea. It's a whopper. Now, if you'll excuse me ladies...I need to go relax and have some time with my Father.
Shayne