I have a dog. His name is Sam. And, strange as it sounds, Sam is a lot like God.

At the risk of sounding, well, blasphemous, I’d like to tell you why my four-legged friend reminds me of my transcendent Friend.

Here are just a few ways that Sam, one of God’s cutest created beings, demonstrates many of the same qualities of the Creator.

Sam is loving. All the time. It doesn’t matter what I’ve done, how I’ve ignored him, how I’ve lost my cool with him, how I’ve raised my voice at him, Sam keeps on loving me the same way, regardless. His love has no strings attached. I know he will never hate me. He’s incapable of it.

Sam is faithful. If I’m in bed sick, he’s snuggled next to me. If I’m sad, he gently nudges me to let me know he is right there and isn’t leaving. Even if I ignore him, he never ignores me. I’m always on his mind. He wants to be my best friend.

Sam is gentle. He wouldn’t hurt anyone, human or animal. He is easy to live with. He has a calming effect on me, especially when I’m anxious about something.

Sam is forgiving. He doesn’t keep record of all the ways I’ve neglected him, forgotten a meal with him, or failed to spend quality time with him. He is eager to forgive and forget and give our relationship a fresh start.

Sam is patient. When I leave Sam for long stretches of the day, he patiently waits for me. I know he misses me, and I can tell it breaks his heart when I’ve wandered away from him. But he keeps waiting for me – longingly yearning for the moment I return to him.

Sam always welcomes me home. When I walk through the door, Sam makes the biggest fuss about me. He smiles at me (with his tail). He kisses me. He makes me feel like I’m the most important person on the planet. He lets me know I am special, and that there’s nowhere he’d rather be than close beside me.

There are other examples, but I think you get the picture. God shows me his magnificent character in so many ways. How kind of him to give me a glimpse of his great and glorious divine nature through one so small and sweet.

Thank you, Sam, for teaching me so much about the one who made both of us.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” – Psalm 150:6

“Let heaven and nature sing.” – Joy to the World