Barking Dog Dilemma
Theme for this Week: Becoming a Peacemaker
Friday, April 19, 2002
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Work hard at living in peace with others (Psalm 34:14). Bonus Reading:Romans 15:17
The Johnsons live near the Smiths, who raise border collies on the side. Molly's barking was keeping the Johnsons awake at night. They invited the Smiths over for a meal, then requested a meeting about the barking problem.
During that meeting, they established that most of the barking occurred when the Smiths were out of town. Molly, unexercised, was tired of being confined. The Smiths had found no one they trusted to properly care for their dogs. Julie Johnson ventured: "Karen, our oldest, would love to feed and exercise your dogs when you're gone. She could learn how to care for them next week."
Molly's remaining barking, they figured out, was triggered by people walking along a nearby highway. Jim Johnson asked whether Steve Smith would be willing to move the kennel to the other side of the house away from the highway. Steve rejected the idea for lack of shade and time to move the kennel.
Jim countered, "How about if my son and I helped you dismantle and move your kennel? As for shade, my father-in-law's got dozens of young trees on his land. We could take your pickup and bring back all the trees you'd need to put around the kennel."
The Smiths accepted both proposals.
Ken Sande in The Peacemaker
My Response: A strained relationship I'll ask God to help me creatively mend is
Thought to Apply: The oilcan is mightier than the sword.
Everett Dirkson (U.S. Senator 20th century)
Adapted from: Becoming a Peacemaker (Baker, 1991, 1997) by permission.
Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Dear Lord, help me deal with conflict in ways that honor You and benefit others.
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