The Grizzly New Comer

Big news! In the very busy month of May we had a new addition to our family, Grizzly vom Buchonia, a little eight-week ball of fur.

Grizzly at 6 weeks

Grizzly is a very good puppy. He is very serious, aloof, and thoughtful. He gets into his share of puppy mischief, but can also just chill and relax chewing on a bone. This is quite the contrast to the mile a minute baby Bison and fun to have a different personality to train. As trying as it can be sometimes, it is still fun going through the process of teaching house manners and routine. It is so exciting and rewarding when he "gets it" for the first time.

Lester would completely disagree! He has decided that he hates puppies. Well, not the puppy himself, but the puppy stage. He wants the puppy to arrive already knowing everything and contributing as a well functioning member of the household. I think this is partially due to the fact that I do all the training. From his standpoint, the dogs just magically know what to do. (I am not being critical, typing this with a smile on my face. This is his own admission and I find it adorable) I had to laugh a little bit the first day when he was looking at Grizzly very seriously and telling him "SIT!". Grizzly cocked his head and promptly jumped up and tried to bite him! I am constantly reminding Lester, "He is a puppy! He doesn't know that yet." A few days ago I overheard Lester talking to Bison. He was saying, "You are such a good boy! I didn't realize what a good dog you are until that Grizzly came here. You are MY buddy aren't you?"

Reflecting this evening, I came to the conclusion that this funny household dynamic sadly happens in church all the time. When a person is new to church and/or newly saved, we expect them to immediately be a fully functioning member of the congregation. We forget that they don't automatically know how to "sit". Sometimes they don't use the right "churchy" vocabulary. Some don't act or dress like we think they should. Some might speak out of turn, or horror of horror sit in some-one's favorite pew. Because so many do not participate at all in the training or growth of a new Christian, we think that they should just magically know what to do. We may even piously approach them and command them to do right, and are shocked when we are given a "biting" response. We don't give new comers the time or help to learn and grow, instead, we find ourselves frustrated or embarrassed by them. We then circle around the old timers who already know the way, our buddies, and hope these new people will get with the program.

I "get" the puppy training thing. This is my fifth time through it, but I know I could do so much better supporting new Christians and new Church members. How about you?