Time for a Bath?

 

Living in the same house with two large dogs has been interesting to say the least! Teddy and TJ lived outdoors in Springville, California, sleeping and hanging out in a large fenced-in area. Every day they were let out of their dog run, free to roam around the property and swim to their heart’s content in our quarter-acre pond.

The daily swim kept them fairly clean, although swimming in the silty pond couldn’t compare to having a bath. Baths didn’t happen too often, because shortly afterwards they’d roll in the dirt or jump in the water.

I didn’t really notice how dirty they were, until taking them to the vet for a checkup. Well, I quickly found out the two categories of dogs: “clean” and “dirty!”  Ours were classified as “dirty.” How embarrassing! However, keeping Teddy and TJ clean was a losing battle.

As city dwellers in Michigan, we have all had to make adjustments—the main one being that Teddy and TJ are now indoors dogs, which means that they have to be clean if we are to live together happily! No more rolling in the dirt, swimming or staying outside 24/7.  During the winter, they are less active than in the summer, sleeping night and day, especially when the weather is inclement.

Since woodchips were put down in the backyard, mud is no longer much of an issue, unless we go walking after the snow has started to melt. In the fall, strands of bark and leaves stick on Teddy’s furry body and are deposited around the house. Wet paws need to be wiped down several times a day after rain or snow storms.

Then there is the dog hair… both of our dogs shed a great deal. TJ’s hairs are short, straight and black and seem to stick on everything. They’ve even made their way into the refrigerator! For that reason, the kitchen is the only room excluded from our dogs’ domain.

Teddy’s hair floats through the air and collects in piles on the hard wood floors. It seems like he is shedding constantly. But maybe we keep the temperature of the house a little too warm for his preference.

 I’ve been giving the dogs a bath outside during the summer. In the winter though, we have been taking them to the kennel periodically, opting not to use a self-serve dog wash. Spending an hour or so in the close quarters of a dog wash seemed a little risky with the coronavirus outbreak, justifying paying the people at the kennel to do it for us.

Both dogs had a nice bath a few days ago, returning home smelling clean and fresh, their fur soft and shiny. But it didn’t last long! Unfortunately, several inches of snow have fallen since then; so, I’ve had to wipe them down after going outside or taking our daily walks. Come to think of it, I can smell TJ as I sit at the table working on this story.

Just as dirty dog smells are unpleasant to us, so are our sins repugnant to our Heavenly Father. In the scripture above, God implored the people of Israel to turn to Him through the prophet Isaiah, by confessing and repenting of their sins. A similar message was delivered to the Israelites centuries later though John the Baptist. Although it was a different era, the problems of   sin and rebellion against Him were the same.

 John called people to repentance, baptizing those who responded in the Jordan River. When Jesus came to John for baptism as well, he hesitated. Here was one who was sinless, the Son of God, wanting to be baptized?

Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of His ministry, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit’s coming in the form of a dove upon Him and the Father’s words of affirmation resounding from heaven. He went on to travel around the countryside, baptizing, preaching, healing the sick and bringing salvation to all who put their faith in Him.

Baptism—the symbolic act of dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ, of identifying with Christ in His death and resurrection. Have you been baptized? Are you walking in the newness of life that He offers? There is still time! Good news!

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NIV