This Dog...

So today I took my dogs down to the football field in Falls City to let them run around while I ran the track. As I neared the field, I let them both off of their leashes. They began to run with abandon as dog friends do. They would sprint from one end of the field to the other. They would occasionally spring alongside me to remind me that I am not alone in this workout. As I came around one corner I realized I couldn't see them anymore. The river runs beside the football field. I started that way because I could see Jam over there. As I got down there Anna (3 1/2 months old) was standing "knee deep" in the fast flowing river. I called her to me. As I did she turned and her hind legs were swept into the deeper water. She was then sucked under into the water that was moving rapidly. Her head was swept under and she came up. I could see she wasn't going to make it back to shore. I only had one choice. I had to get after her. i stepped into the fast moving water moving as fast as I could down the stream. I was in water up to my thighs. I grabbed what I could of the puppy. It happened to be the skin near her rib cage. I grabbed her and brought her to my chest as I made my way out of the water. She continued to run about with abandon almost as if nothing had happened-besides the fact that she was soaked. Needless to say I was shaking. Both from the cold and the adrenaline. So, why am I telling you this? Well, for some reason my overactive mind seems to analyze things too deeply, so on my walk home this is what I came up with. In our pre-earth life... we are on a "leash". God is there leading us through until we are born where we are set free. Just as the dogs were let off the leash.We begin to experience life and make friends along the way. We run around and enjoy the things that life has to offer. Though, our master is still there. Always willing to reach out and help. Though the further that we get away from our master, the more dangerous a situation can be. That water can be very alluring. We want to see what it feels like. That could be fatal. Sometimes our savior calls to us, but it is too late for us to turn to him. We then have to reach our outstretched arms to him as he saves us. We cannot make our way out of the swift currents of the devil without Him. We will fall deeper and deeper until we are consumed with sin and evil. The Lord will save us. He has already paid the price- even if it meant he had to get a little cold or wet. We simply have to turn to him to have his embrace warm us as he pulls us into is arms and comforts us as we struggle from the icy grasp of the devil. God loves us and so he sent his son to save us. Don't get too close to the water, it is much easier to stay close to our master than be swept away by the currents of sin. Stay righteous and lean on the atonement, and everything will turn out as it should.