When our kids were little, they were terribly afraid of dogs. It might have started when they were babies and we would take them for walks around our neighborhood in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Pitbulls were apparently the breed of choice back then. On several occasions, those cute little bull dogs would dash out at us, barking, growling, and glaring their teeth as we walked by with our precious little ones in the baby stroller or red wagon. Fortunately, 2 feet before they came to the sidewalk, they would stop suddenly as the little clothesline cable they were tied to reached its limit.
After we moved to Hulett, we had plenty of encounters with stray dogs. Most of the time, it was merely barking at us as we walked by, but sometimes they would come closer than was comfortable to check us out. Our kids never got bit, but on two occasions, dogs jumped into our fenced backyard and killed our chickens and on one occasion ripped our little white bunny rabbit out of its cage, leaving nothing but a furry leg behind.
So, how do you address this issue? I have thought about poison, but decided against it. I have offered to give the dogs away to visitors, but nobody has taken me up on the deal, yet. I locked up a stray in our kennel one time, only to get the owner really, really mad at us – but, in retrospect, that was the last time that dog visited our house.
We never solved the stray dog problem in Hulett. I don’t think that problem will ever go away. Instead, we told our kids to deal with their fear. Over and over again, when the stray dogs would come up to us, I reminded the kids not to fear. Instead, they were to keep walking and ignore the dogs. When the kids showed their fear for the dogs, the strays would get excited and become more and more intimidating. But when the kids ignored the dogs, the strays got bored and left us alone to go barking at something more provocative.
The same can be said for relationships we have with stray, hurtful people. Do you have anyone in your life that has hurt you and caused emotional pain? What happened when you fought back? No doubt, they fought back harder and recruited others to join in on their assault against you. Now, if it is a Christian brother or sister, they do need to be confronted (Matt 18:15ff). Unfortunately, even confrontation will not fix a problem with a Christian who refuses to repent. So, what do you do after all else fails? My advice for you is the same as my advice for my kids. Deal with your fear. Do not fear the stray, hurtful people. Do not let fear motivate you into thinking and talking about ways to get even or silence your enemies. Instead, fear the LORD and ignore the stray hurtful people. God will deal with them in His time. And, given enough time, if they choose not to repent, they will leave you alone and find someone else to bother.
“In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
and His children will have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the LORD.” Romans 12:19
