My dog stares at my while I eat. She has no manners, no pride, and no sense of shame. She unabashedly stares and begs, watching my every move, hoping I might, by some act of particular mercy or grace, offer her a small tidbit for her eternally empty stomach. It’s very annoying.
Annie watches us eat
Why does she do it? Because she is a dog and that’s what dogs do. She knows that any food worth anything comes from the master’s table, so she waits and stares. Why does it annoy me? I guess because it makes me feel a little obligated to share. What I fail to realize is that she is just a dog. She does not think I am obligated to share. She just hopes I will. And so this morning she sat and waited patiently for the crust of my toast, with or without jelly.
The whole episode reminds me of the story in the Bible where the Canaanite woman comes to Jesus for help. I’ve always thought it sounded like He basically calls her a dog and says it’s not His place to help her. Consider this scripture: Continue reading »