I watched Willy gingerly prance across the back yard toward the creek. Waylon and Willy had a dog meeting by the creek. Then Willy disappeared, walking down the slope to the creek. Waylon watched the house. Waylon trotted across the yard and went back into the pen. Everybody knew what was going down. Willy crossed the creek – a big no-no! I got a stick, walked to the creek, and waited. I didn’t call. Waylon came back out of the pen and stood by. I petted him and assured him he was okay. I had left the gate open so they could run around in the yard for a while. This is a normal practice that I have done for years, but I have to watch them just for days like today. Occasionally they get an itch to go beyond the boundaries. So, we waited. By watching Waylon, I knew when Willy was making his way back through the thick cane. Sure enough, in a minute he emerged and paused, assessing the situation. I made eye contact and curtly said, “Willy, you get back over here!” He didn’t move. I said it again, this time with more force. He slowly started wading the creek. Seeing the stick in my hand, he knew what was coming. It just takes a touch of the stick when they have done wrong to get the job of reproof and instruction accomplished. When he got within range, putting great displeasure in my voice, I touched him with the stick telling him to get back in the pen. This evoked a disgruntled muffled growl from him as he made his way across the yard to the pen. “Creek, no!” was my repeated instruction, as I followed him across the yard. I purposely slammed the gate behind him after he got in the pen, demonstrating my displeasure for the deed. They both know better than to go across the creek. They have both done it. Today, Waylon chose not. He remained in the safe zone within boundaries. Willy fell to temptation. He had to be disciplined. I would like to see them get off the 1.65 acres and have some new adventures, but the dangers are too great. Injury, loss, and death looms in those pleasures of sin that last for only a short season. I must keep them on the straight and narrow. Man has been sneaking around and trying to cover and justify his sin since the beginning. Romans chapter one tells us that man knows better, but we do it anyway. That is why we need the Savior who gives us his Word and Spirit. Jesus came to save us from the injury, loss, and death of sin. When we yield to the temptation, he waits as we do our thing, then he disciplines and instructs us of a better way of life. He loves and cares for us and wants the best for us. We stay in the safe zone by listening to Him.
Across the Creek
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