Gizmo is the name of our little dog, a cross between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a Pekingese. He weighs only 12 lbs. and is now 12 years old. With our daughter and son long out of the nest, Gizmo is family and for many years has effortlessly filled the void left by our children's departures off to college years ago. Among his many virtues, the most amazing may be that he has never failed to give us a tremendous welcome every time we come home. It is a hero's welcome, a long-lost lover's welcome, a loved one-come-back-from-the-dead welcome. He never fails to demonstrate an enormous joy upon our arrival back home. What a blessing is ours in his simple, effusive response of excitement and delight by our presence.
Gizmo reminds me of the unreserved, irrepressible joy of the father in Christ's parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-31). Of course, the father in the parable is metaphor for our heavenly Father whose joy is occasioned by our response to his grace in our prayer, reading the Word, and in engagement in acts of mercy in his name. How incredible is life with Gizmo who without knowing it helps us remember the love of God and the joy he has when we come into his presence and open ourselves up to his welcome once again.
JSR
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