This week, we are celebrating the anniversary of our beloved Molly’s adoption. Fourteen years ago, God gave me one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received: a little beige dog I named Molly. Who knew (other than Him) that she would be the instrument God would use to teach me so much about His grace and favor?

Before adopting Molly, I had only been out of prison for three years and was already working in ministry. I was zealous for the Lord, but my zeal was misdirected. I was trying so hard to please Him, and doing my best to help others goosestep to the tune I believed God was playing. But the Holy Spirit kept stubbornly leading me to Bible passages about God’s grace and unmerited favor. And I started hearing phrases like “the finished work” and “identity in Christ” that set my heart ablaze, even though I couldn’t comprehend them.

My problem was (and still sometimes is) that I couldn’t conceive how God could love and accept me, just as I was, flaws and all. My past was horrific, and all I could see was my failures. So, I worked hard on my performance, secretly convinced I was only one mistake away from God giving up on me.

Then God led me to Molly. I saw her doggy mugshot on Petfinder; she was at the St. Francis animal shelter. As soon as I saw her, I knew she had to be mine, and my heart beat faster. She was so tiny and broken. She was terrified of humans, and she wouldn’t let the workers pick her up but would follow them around with a look of longing on her face. I knew right away that she and I were kindred spirits.

I loved her fully and completely before I got to know her, and I stubbornly set my affection toward her. It was clear from the start that Molly had issues. The world had not been kind to her; more specifically, humans had not been kind to her, and it showed. She had developed a lot of bad habits, and potty training was exceedingly difficult. But I celebrated each win and patiently cleaned up each failure. In my eyes, she could do no wrong and still can’t. It’s like God gave me the gift of limitless patience for Molly, and with it, He began to teach me about His love and patience for me.

I intuitively understood that the only thing that could help Molly was for me to win her love and trust. I knew love would heal her. I did everything I could to translate my love to her. I never counted her mistakes against her but celebrated each little glimmer of her budding trust for me. As I coaxed her trust, our bond grew. Her love and trust were and always have been her precious gifts to me. I cherish them.

And so it is with God. Molly has taught me that He set His affection on me long before I ever knew Him. He understood and still knows how my hurt and pain have fashioned me, and there is unlimited grace (undeserved and unearned love and affection) and patience for me. He sees me with unwavering fondness and is always for me and never against me.

There will never be anything Molly could do to get me to give up on or give her away. If she were lost, I would search to the ends of the earth to find her. Now that she’s entered her senior years (who knows how old Molly is, as she was full-grown when I got her) she’s lost most of her vision and hearing, but she’s still thriving. She comprehends, probably more than any of my other dogs, that she is loved and is a prize in the McCloskey kingdom. She is sassy and a bit of a diva, but we love that about her. She knows who she is to us.

And that, my friends, is identity. She knows she is unwaveringly loved and acts with authority and sass because of it. When you understand the love and affection of the Father, confidence can’t help but grow. So, take it from Molly, learn to live in your Father’s affection. There is nothing you can do to shake His love for you. You are stuck with His affection, and He has unlimited patience. There is no goosestepping required! He doesn’t want that. He wants your love and trust, and He’s wooing you to win them. And if you can’t comprehend how He can love you because you feel like a hot mess, call your local shelter and adopt a new fur baby.

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One response

  1. iIt is very obvious of the attachment between the two of you.. I pray that my attachment with God the Father,will be that obvious in time,if not now. He’s doing His part.

    very well stated.

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