We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended
or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act,
so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord.
II Corinthians 6:3 (LB1)

I learn spiritual lessons from simple, everyday experiences. Wesley is working with me at the present. Just in case you don’t know who Wes is–we bought him when he was about six weeks old at PetSmart–a tiny, terrified, trembling little black and white terrier. He took us through some scary adventures early on, the main one a tryst with tick fever. But he’s fine now and a smart pup who can obey over thirty commands, i.e., sit, stay, go away, basket, come, etc.
Well, we were walking around our block the other morning without a leash (against the rules, but so early in the morning no one notices–I hope)! He stays on the left side of the street with me maybe ten or fifteen feet ahead. There are two yards where the owner has said, “I don’t want that dog in my yard!” Wesley and I both heard that menacing warning so we dare not put a foot in either of those two yards!
I looked ahead and here comes a BIG man with his BIG dog -and I don’t know either one of them by name. So, I called Wes, snapped on his leash and had him sit down next to me while the man and his pet sauntered by. He paused, looked at Wes sitting there so politely and said, “You have a fine, obedient animal there.” I smiled, said thank you, and puffed up my feathers like a rooster. I was so proud of Wesley. I rubbed his head, took off his leash, and said, “Good job, Wes!”
“What in the world does that have to do with our walk with the Lord, Anabel?”
Well, we can put a ruler in God’s hand to rap our knuckles when we make a mistake; we can make our walk with the Lord so theological, so ponderous, such a burden with constant self-analyzing–“Why did I do that? Will I never learn? I just can’t do it!” that those observing us say, “No way! I don’t need another hassle in my life!” Or we can make it so ethereal that those looking on can’t understand–they think we’re walking in “never-never land” and find no relevance for their lives in what we do and say. I reject either of those ways.
I like to believe the Lord “puffs out His feathers” when I do things right–and I know what is right by reading my Bible. Oh, my behavior doesn’t enhance my relationship with Him or cause Him to love me any more or any less–He loves me unconditionally from now through eternity! But I like to think He’s proud of me–just like I was proud of Wes that morning. I think I can feel His arm on my shoulder and hear Him say, “Good job, little one!” It makes walking with Him something I love to do!

1The Living Bible Paraphrased