A Far Better Companion

March 30, 2021

"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

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John the Baptist said, "The time has come...The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). But what exactly is the Kingdom of God? Check out "Basics of Basileia", a four-part mini-series by Brother Suresh Manoharan designed to help us have a better understand of God's Kingdom!