Drover can’t figure it out. He goes out of his way to be winsome and charming. He greets the man by standing in the middle of his walkway. He dances on his hind legs. He wags his whole body. He pants as loudly as possible. He sloppily licks the man’s hand at every opportunity, communicating his supreme devotion.  

Meanwhile Moses, the worthless cat, sits to one side with frosty aloofness, making no effort to attract the man’s attention. Yet the man scolds Drover while reaching down to pet the cat. To Drover, it doesn’t seem fair. 

 Men and dogs don’t think the same—or do they? The man pauses and studies his pets thoughtfully.  

Men and dogs both have trouble seeing themselves as others see them. This opens up two areas of human responsibility. First, we need to be willing to receive admonition and correction from others. Such reproof can be hard to accept; we may feel picked on, or we may think ill of those who are trying to help us. However, to reject their input is to lose the benefit of their insight. Second, we need to kindly help those who need our direction. It takes humility, courage, and a caring heart to share a concern with a brother about a need in his personal life.  

Clueless, Drover bumbles his way through life without the capacity to understand his own needs. We may not do much better without the input of fellow travelers on the road to eternity. Each of us is responsible to help others and to receive help.  

Let us help while now we can, 
Every burden to relieve; 
As we bless our fellow man, 
So a blessing we’ll receive. 
—Palmer Hartsough 

From Paws on My Porch, by Gary Miller
© 2015 TGS International, PO Box 355, Berlin, Ohio 44610 
Used by permission