“There is
no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with
punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John
4:18 NIV)
I was dog sitting for my daughter the other day while she got some work done in
her house. When it was time to
take them home I decided to walk her eight pound pack leader, Lexie home first.
Even though she was the smallest of all my daughter’s dogs she tended to boss
and bark at the others during the walks across the road from my house to her’s.
As soon as I opened the door and stepped out on my porch I saw my neighbor
walking his own little dog down the road. All at once the fur on Lexie’s
back stood up in a Mohawk. She growled, lunged, barked, and pulled on her
leash to get to my neighbor’s dog. I bent down, picked her up with one
hand, and held her to my chest. She relaxed and started to lick my chin as
if to reassure me that she loved me and would always be there to protect me
from all the dangers of this world.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit of envy at that tiny dog’s fearlessness.
All too often in my own life I have made a friend of fear instead of showing
him the door. Like Mark Twain I have “known a great many troubles, but
most of them never happened.” It was like my mind was driving down an
old, dirt road and continually falling into the ruts of fear and worry.
Often it took a lot of hard work to steer my thoughts back out again.
Sadly, I have spent far too much of my life fumbling with fear when I should
have been dancing with love.
God loves us all so much and God wants us to live our lives free from fear and
full of love. Keep your thoughts on love then. Fill your heart with
love. Live your life in love. It will make your face smile.
It will make your heart sing. It will make your spirit soar. It
will make your soul one with God. It is a far better companion than fear
ever will be. Invite it in then for a seat and a glass of tea and show
fear the door.
Joseph J. Mazzella
