You Gotta Read the Rule Book

Since my husband's retirement, he has kept busy doing dog field trial training and tests with our three Labradors. Here they are having some fun in the Snake River. Those are "bumpers" they each are bringing back—fake ducks.

 

 

Recently, my husband began judging some of these field trials. As a judge, he helps set up the tests, the trial, that the dogs and handlers are to go through. Those who are successful receive rewards, usually in the form of ribbons and qualification of a standard reached.

 

The way each test is judged successful is whether the dog goes straight. When I asked, "Why?" he said so as not to disturb unnecessary cover—places where, if on the hunt field, prey might be hiding. It would also be proof the dog follows directions and does not give into distractions, like frogs, which are Belle's trip up. She's the yellow lab in the photo.

 

He also told me, "It's in the rule book. You gotta read the rule book."

 

Hmm. The dogs can't read the rule book, but the dog handlers are responsible to do so.

 

Our Rule Book, the Bible, is what keeps us from disturbing others unnecessarily and from distractions. It is what keeps us going straight.

 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable

for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

that the man of God may be complete,

equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

 

Praying moms, sometimes our children aren't reading the Bible. Sometimes they can't being too young to read, so we can read it to them. Other times, and more often, they have the skill to read, but have chosen not to do so. As moms, we give them opportunities to hear, but the responsibility to read the Rule Book is theirs.

 

Of course, our children are not like field trial dogs. But we, as moms, are not too unlike their handlers. Even though our children have to walk through their tests on their own, we can be persistently and fervently backing them up in prayer, particularly covering their lives with the Word of God. Our prayers at the Throne become like a voice in their ears to help them go straight and stay on the path, or to encourage them to drop the frog, get up and run forward to complete the test.

 

That is a key reason for using our Rule Book, the Bible, in prayer for our children.  We are taking "handling" of our children to another level. Our prayers will help them go straight, successfully through the tests.