Will You Cease to be a Sir Arthur?

Sir Arthur

Four days ago, we welcomed a new dog into the family. Sir Arthur was the name we had chosen for this fat, able-bodied tri-color corgi that was supposedly good with other dogs. He was coming from Kansas and being dropped off in Portland, ME. Since the drive to Scarborough is somewhat lengthy, only Dad went to pick him up. When they returned, Friday was on the stairs in the garage. By nature, Friday is a very gentle, submissive dog. It's true that he and Lacey didn't always get along, but for the most part they were friends. Things became serious only in the last few months of Lacey's life--which is understandable because sick dogs tend to turn aggressive. Anyway, when Arthur got out of the car, there was growling and then a nasty dog fight. Friday received the worst of it with a big wound on his ear. Sir Arthur only ended up with a little nick on his face.
 

That wasn't the end of the trouble. During the fight, Zelda and I remained in the house. Our cat Kitty was curled up on a kitchen chair. When Arthur came in, he was on his leash and standing by the rubbish barrel, not even near Kitty. Well, when she saw him she literally went crazy. She started running and climbing everywhere, even up the cabinets and the windows! In the end, she tore down the hallway so fast that the phrase "at the speed of light" seems too inadequate. She has never acted that way towards any animal.

Friday

Over the past few days, Friday and he have been growling at each other. We finally put Sir Arthur in a crate for the safety of everyone. What's more, Friday is not a very vocal dog, but he has been whining and panting more than ever before. When Dad goes to take Sir Arthur out, Friday will not only whine, but also put his head back and howl pitifully, like a wolf. When Lacey was alive and Dad took just her out, he would cry out of jealousy--or so it seemed--but never in the way that he has been doing.

Kitty

Two days ago Mom decided to let Sir Arthur out of the crate while Friday was in and Dad wasn't home. Things didn't go well. Oh, he didn't bother Friday. He saw Kitty and went over to her. He just stood there looking. Kitty was afraid and began to arch her back. I believe she hissed once when he lunged at her. It was so quick and so noisy that I scarcely knew what happened, but next thing I know my mom and sister are over there yelling. Zelda is protecting Kitty's head while Mom is banging Arthur's snout, trying to get him to realize his grip on Kitty's tail. Friday came over and started attacking Kitty too--which is unusual. They are the best of friends--or they were. In the end, Mom did manage to get Arthur off, but in all the ruckus, Kitty was using my sister's hand to bite on. No fingers were broken, but it looks horrible. Her other arm and even her stomach all have scratches as well.

Fluffy

The only animal that has remained unscathed is old, ornery Fluffy. She stays in the bedroom most of the time. The other day, however, after we had moved Arthur to the bookroom so he wouldn't have to stay in the cage, Fluffy ventured out. Now the bookroom is right next to the bedroom, and when Fluffy reached the bookroom entrance (which was barred because the crate was in front of it), she stopped. Turning around very slowly, she slunk back to the bedroom entrance, and then bolted in. Fluffy normally bolts right away, so even her behavior is very odd.

It may not surprise you that most of us here want to send Sir Arthur back to the organization we got him from (which you must do if you are not happy with the dog). He is a lovely dog when it comes to people (though he was eyeing my sister when she was bathing him, so who really knows?) and he loves to play ball; but he isn't good with other animals, and he has been causing a lot of stress between them and the members of the family.

Sir Arthur is a fine example of the truth that "none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself" (Romans 14:7). Everything has an influence; everything is either a savour of life unto life, or a savour of death unto death (2 Corinthians 2:16). If Arthur, who is but a dog, wields such a powerful influence, how much more do we?

"GOD has invested man with an influence that makes it impossible for him to live to himself. ...Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere of its own—an atmosphere, it may be, charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love. Or it may be heavy and chill with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of cherished sin. By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected. This is a responsibility from which we cannot free ourselves. Our words, our acts, our dress, our deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence. Upon the impression thus made there hang results for good or evil which no man can measure. Every impulse thus imparted is seed sown which will produce its harvest.  It is a link in the long chain of human events, extending we know not whither. If by our example we aid others in the development of good principles, we give them power to do good. In their turn they exert the same influence upon others, and they upon still others. Thus by our unconscious influence thousands may be blessed." Ellen White, Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 339.

All of us, then, exert an influence on each other, and all of us have exerted an influence for evil in one way or another, probably to a greater and worse extent than Sir Arthur. No, most of us haven't bitten people's ears or anything like that, but we have inflicted emotional wounds that are just as painful, if not more. In that way, we are all a lot like him. While that isn't a very bright picture, and while we can't cease to impact others, there is good news. GOD is willing to forgive us for and cleanse us from everything that would stop us from exerting an influence for good (1 John 1:9). Then we will be wonderful blessings to the world. The only one who can stop this wonderful change from happening is each of us. The choice is ours. Will you cease to be a Sir Arthur?

Blessings,

Jean