Psalm 53

As soon as I could, I got rid of the silly button in his ear! The beautiful near life size Steiff Scottie dog arrived from Germany on or near my eighth Christmas. It was most likely early December of 1953. I loved the gray mohair dog with bright button eyes and a happy knowing expression. Because he was so special I played “lightly” with him – no sandbox excursions, no long distant car trips, no bright sun, and no sloppy canned dog food for my Scottie. For years he sat on a high shelf. Son Andrew, grandsons Luke and Ben (my special grandsons) could look and gently touch, but no rough house, dog house, or outside adventures. Well into his fortieth year I began to imagine my dog had become a valuable post war collectible. Then the Steiff animals began to appear on Antiques Roadshow and I learned the value was for those animals for whom the button survived. Oops! I still have my Scottie dog. He is still carefully protected and I love him even though his ear is buttonless. The memories are worth a million (sorry Roadshow).

~ Len Porter

Prayer

O God, they say “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” We thank You that as our Creator You still see beauty in us even when we have been stained with sin. We thank You that through Your grace we are made clean through the waters of baptism. Help us this Advent to see the beauty in each person and to remember that he or she too has been created in Your image and is part of Your family. In the name of our Elder Brother Jesus, we pray. Amen.