Looking at the Heart

We took the kids to petsmart on Saturday to try to find a farm dog for our home.  There was a rescue organization that was hosting an adoption fair this weekend. We were looking at a black pitbull/mix dog when a lady that helps run the nonprofit told me that this particular dog may have already found its forever  home.  Just a moment later, a young lady, probably in her late 20’s rounded the end of the aisle in her wheelchair.  She was coming towards us and the black dog.  I noticed quickly that she had significant developmental disabilities and was fully dependent on her wheelchair.  Her caregiver was by her side to help with the adoption process.    The black dog jumped up with his front paws and placed them on the edge of her knees.  This gave him the angle he need to just reach her cheeks and cover them with wet kisses.   She just laughed a big belly laugh and smiled a broad, toothy smile.  It was beautiful to watch this interaction.  She was his new mama and he was so excited to be going home with her.  I thought it was so beautiful how he  jumped up there and gave her a kisses and love, with no reservations.  One of my favorite verses is from I Samuel 16:7-- “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  The Black dog didn’t see her wheelchair, he didn’t mind that she didn’t have full use of her arms or legs, he didn’t even notice the extra time and effort it took to express her words.  He just loved her and saw her as what she truly was...a person that wanted to love him.  He saw her heart. It was beautiful to watch!  I am so glad I there on their aisle at the pet store that day so I could watch this beautiful love story unfold.  I owe a big thank you to the black pit bull/mix rescue dog that reminded me of how to love more like Jesus.  I am so glad that he didn’t look at the things that people look at.  Instead of looking at the outward appearance, he chose to look at the heart.