The Hope of Dogs and Humans

Did you ever wonder what a dog thinks? What goes through their mind from day to day? I, like many other humans have frequently pondered this.
We all have looked at our pets expressions and voiced what we think their thoughts are... A simple "hello", or "And where have you been all day?", or "can I have a bite?" It makes us laugh and feel comfort to place human emotion upon our adopted family members, but I believe they do have them.
They feel joy, when their favorite people come home from an outing; when they find their favorite toy. Frustration when they must stay inside when the dog next door is clearly getting too close to the fence line; And when the man in the big truck with the swan on it comes to the door unannounced. But the most common emotion they feel, hope.
They hope for a pet or a "good girl" when they look at their masters with admiration. Hope, when they begin to smell the meal being prepared in the best room of the house. Hope, for a piece of that meal to make it's way off your plate to the floor with out you noticing. ;)
The hope in the eyes of a dog is clearly seen when taken a moment to pause and look into those awaiting faces. Another question comes to mind; do we also live with this same hope?
Not the hope of a treat or a pat on the head, but the hope we have in our Master? The hope of hearing the words "Well done, my good and faithful servant". The hope of seeing Him in His glory? Do people see the hope in our eyes, just as well as the hope in a dogs?
When you think about it hope of a canine and a human has similarities, we wish for praise, affection, love, and maybe a bite of that cake, but there is one difference that needs to be noted.
Disappointment, the dog may get passed up for a pet, the bowl left empty once or twice. BUT, we will never have to face this disappointment in our Master! He will not forget about us, our hearts will not be left empty, or wanting. He is a faithful and loving God, who will never forget His children.
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace, gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" 2 Thessalonians 2:16
So the next time you look at your dog with those puppy eyes full of hope 'saying' "can I have a "bite?", remember that though similar, our hope is of a different kind, hope with the encouragement of a never - failing, faithful, loving God.


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