A Calling

            Thursday of this week we had a special visitor at school, Bosco. Bosco is a pet therapy dog who works with Mr. Hayford's sister-in-law (Mrs. Dietre Hayford) through Pet Partners. Bosco's job is to help comfort people in need. They may be sick, dying or have emotional issues.
            We had a great time learning all about Bosco, his training, and what is expected of him.
            We met Bosco last school year, so he was a returning friend!
            Bosco has a unique calling. He must behave differently than many dogs, when he is working. Many of Bosco's natural instincts must be trained out of him. When Bosco is working, he must not react to loud noises, people trying to get his attention, other dogs or animals. As one student put it, Bosco must resist temptations.
            This is Bosco's "calling". He knows what to do when Mrs. Hayford takes Bosco into a hospital. He knows what the person needs. He will often cuddle with the ill person and simply lie they and be "loved" upon. This calling can't be taken out of him. We were told this is something he loves to do at home with his family, as well.
            While Mrs. Hayford was speaking to the classrooms about Bosco, I thought about our calling that the LORD put in us before we were part of our mother. We are told in Jeremiah 1:5 that the LORD knew Jeremiah before his birth, He said to Jeremiah: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."If this is true of Jeremiah, this too must be true for us as well.
            We all have been given special gifts and talents that we are to use to glorify the LORD in whatever He has called us to do.
            Some of us know what we are called to do from an early age. Some of us don't know until we have the "aha" moment and find that position that just seems to "call" to us. Some of us have someone who directs us to the path we are to take. Some never seem to find it till they retire and then...there it is! But no matter what we do we are to do it all to His glory.
            It was interesting to watch Bosco with Mrs. Hayford. He waited for her to give him the directions he needed before he acted. At times it was a bit of a wait. For us it was a couple minutes. For Bosco, it must have seemed even longer, because he would be receiving a treat at the end of his task or trick.
            Again, how much like Bosco we all are. We must all "wait upon the LORD". How often to do get impatient and want it now. Our reward is much more than Bosco's though. Our reward is that one day we will be in paradise with our LORD. For us it is quite simple but also very hard as well. It is very hard to resist the temptations of this world. We are told that all we have to do is, "Believe on the LORD Jesus, as your Savior, and you will be saved". (Acts 16:31a)
            Our calling cannot be taken away by anyone - it was placed there by the LORD. The calling that our children have been given is there for them to discover. It is up to us to help guide and lead them to where He wants them to go with their gifts.
© vjhelmling
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