I woke up with a start to see our bedroom door wide open. The tiny crack we had carefully propped for air flow in the heat, must have failed. We normally keep it closed so our two little dogs can’t go barking through the house if some night creature perks their ears. Closed doors also allow us to hear them scratch if they need to go out, which we learned the hard way on a couple rare occasions; if they are downstairs frantically scratching at the door, we can’t hear and they need to go…so they will. I quickly scan their beds; Hunter remains sleeping, Rosie’s bed is empty. Uh oh! I sit up with a start and see her lying down quietly in front of the open door.

Naturally, it strikes me immediately as a message from You. Through the years as our dogs have gotten to know and love us, they have become fiercely loyal creatures that like to stay close (which makes mopping the floors always interesting!). The wide open door invited her out to mischief but she preferred to stay near us.

“Wide is the path to destruction”, You whisper. “Full of poor and unwise choices and short cuts. But as You get to know and love Me, you will desire to remain close to Me and the wide open gate leading to man’s ways will not draw you because you have sincerely come to prefer Me.”

I love the slow, quiet patience I sense in this. No hurry or pressure to know You in my way, but an authentic, lovely, developing relationship between Master and servant that You have most kindly deemed to become a friendship. Thank You, Jesus.