I have three dogs. I’m the first to admit, I really shouldn’t own a dog. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I can’t live with them or without them. Throughout my life, I’ve had 46 dogs. That is as many as I can recall at least.

We lived on a busy street growing up, with an acre of property. Somehow we always ended up with dogs that people decided they didn’t want. We never paid for a dog; they were just given to us.

Since we were on a busy street, 90 percent of those dogs longed for that world they saw past the fence. Most of them did end up jumping the fence, even with all the precautions we had set up. Once they jumped over, there wasn’t much we could do to save them. Cars came barreling down the highway at speeds up to 70 or 80 mph at times. It became a familiar sound to hear the screech and then the slam. Why did those dogs always long for the danger that lurked outside that fence? They had an acre to roam; they had family and food!

We always knew the smart ones. They would stay back, even when the gate was open. They were the 10 percent—the survivors! They stuck around long enough to be in the Christmas, Easter, and birthday pictures year after year. The good ol’ faithful ones they were.

The other day, my dogs looked through my French doors with that begging “feed me” look. I just knew I couldn’t put it off any longer, so I grabbed the bucket of food. It was a full bucket, loaded up fresh with a new batch of food. I struggled to open the door as they jumped against it, while I tried to bring out their food.

I made it out and then they jumped all over me, making noises and jumping up and down, bouncing around me. “What is wrong with them?” I thought. “These crazy dogs—don’t they know I’m trying to feed them?”

I could barely get the bucket to their bowls because they kept up their nonsense, jumping and bouncing all around me. For a split second, I heard God say “Hannah, you have what they need, but they lack what they need.”

“What they need…” I thought. “Is this one of your parables for me Lord?”

“Of course it is,” I had to say to myself. I saw myself like my dogs, jumping and bouncing all around before the Lord with concerns, worries, and wants—and yet God standing so still and steady, waiting to feed me. He just needs me to sit at His feet and be still.

They finally did sit still to eat. I thought a lot that day about dogs—all the dogs that have come through my life: the 90 percent that had to see the other side and ended up dead, the wise ones that stayed on the acre next to their master. How that 10 percent became fixtures in our lives, bringing love and companionship for years.

I saw myself that day, in my dogs. It wasn’t the best thing to see, but it sure made me thankful for Jesus living in my heart.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 NKJV).

Isn’t it comforting that, although we lack what we need, we have a Father in heaven who lacks nothing and knows our every need?

Three things I came away with that day were:

  • Don’t jump the fence. There’s bad traffic out there. “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6 KJV).
  • Stay on the acre with my Master. It’s safer here and He can take care of me properly and bless me here. “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV).
  • Don’t be too hyper, anxious, or overridden with the “need to eat.” Sit, wait, be still…He will feed me. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5 ESV).