a much-loved dog

Melissa Logsdon – July 25, 2023 3 Comments

Reflecting on our identity as beloved, interim associate pastor Melissa Logsdon shares her personal experience to warm our hearts to love more and better.-Renée

A much loved dog…

…that’s what we tell people when they ask us “What kind of dog is that?”

We go on to say he is a rescue and a little bit of everything, we suspect. But, ultimately, we highlight “he is a much loved dog and that’s all that matters!”

Some people accept this statement and go on to talk about how cute he is or ask us to share his adoption story and meaning of his name. But, other people, well, they just can’t let go of their need to define him by ways they value– defining what “type” of dog he is, basing it off of his breed. They, while well-meaning I’m sure, may try to look at him and identify breeds they see in him. Or go on to encourage us to get a DNA test for him, to find out what he really is (and while I’m not against this idea, and someday we very well may get a DNA test for him); it really won’t change a thing for us–he is, and will continue to be–our much loved dog.

I notice the same conversations happening when I meet someone for the first time. Some people are completely content to meet me as is–a much loved person. They are quick to want to hear what I value, what I love, and what I think. Others, well-meaning I’m sure, may want to ask me questions to figure out what “type” of person I am: “How many kids do you have? Where do you work? Are you married? Where do you live?” And if I answer in ways that make sense to them, well then they know who I really am. And what about when those answers aren’t what people expect? When you don’t have kids or grandkids, when you don’t work, aren’t married, and don’t own a house? Sometimes those conversations get a little awkward..and sometimes, we walk away from those conversations wondering if we are much loved people after all.

So what do we do about this? How do we change the questions and maybe even the answers? How do we walk away from these conversations with our value still intact? May I propose a switch in perspectives/a switch in defining attributes? What if we took on God’s perspective? That we are all equally valuable, we are all loved, and, with God, we are all victorious, even in the midst of our battles.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 (CEB)

“Dear brothers and sisters, you are dearly loved by God and we know that he has chosen you to be his very own.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (TPT)

To be a much loved person or a much loved dog–THAT is enough.

Melissa Logsdon, July 2023