My human says I’ve got a gift for noticing things…. that I notice things most folks miss.
A squirrel twitching his tail three fences over.
A creak of the porch swing before sunrise.
The UPS truck three minutes before it turns into the driveway.
Or when somebody’s voice gets softer because their heart is hurting.
The other morning, I was laying on the porch while my human sat there with a cup of coffee and his old worn out Bible open to Ephesians 4
No big sermon.
No church choir or praise team.
Just birds singing, dew on the grass, and the smell of bacon drifting through the screen door.
And he read aloud about kindness, forgiveness, and using words that build folks up instead of tearing them down.
Now I may be an old dog, but I’ve learned that words matter.
I’ve seen the junk.
I’ve seen humans wound each other without ever lifting a hand.
I’ve watched sharp words hang in the air heavier than thunderclouds.
But I’ve also watched gentle words change a whole room.
A “thank you.”
A “forgive me.”
A “you doing okay?” can feel like somebody opening the door and letting fresh air back in.
Those are holy moments.
Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up…”
Dogs are pretty simple creatures.
We don’t hold grudges long.
Toss us a ball five minutes after we’ve been scolded and we’re already tail-wagging again.
Humans, though, sometimes carry hurt around like an old leash tangled around their feet.
But holy moments happen when folks choose grace instead.
I saw one that very afternoon.
My human was tired.
The kind of tired where even his shoes sounded weary crossing the kitchen floor.
Somebody called with bad timing and worse attitude.
I braced myself.
Even I know when growling is about to start.
But instead, he paused.
Quiet.
Whoever was on the other end must’ve been having a rough day, because my human listened more than he talked.
Didn’t interrupt.
Didn’t get snippy.
Didn’t try to win the conversation.
He just answered softly.
Kindly.
When he hung up, he scratched behind my ears and said, “Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is respond differently than expected.”
I think that’s true.
Holy moments aren’t always loud church songs or mountain sunsets.
Sometimes they’re tiny choices.
Choosing patience in traffic.
Choosing forgiveness when you’ve been hurt.
Choosing encouragement when criticism would come easier.
Choosing not to bark back.
And maybe that’s why God gives us so many little opportunities every day—because holiness grows best in ordinary moments.
Even for old dogs and tired humans.
So today I’m watching closely.
Tail thumping.
Ears perked.
Looking for holy moments hidden in everyday life.
And maybe… you can join in too.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
- Ephesians 4:32 NIV
