BUSTER, the pup, was excited! What could this strange thing be? He had seen it climbing down out of a tree, and thinking that it was a cat, had come bounding over to play with it.
But this creature was not a cat at all. A cat would have arched its back, fluffed its tail and hissed. To Buster’s surprise this little animal did nothing more than curl himself into a ball.
The dog barked, loudly and fiercely. He bounded around, in and out, up and down. Still the strange creature did not move.
Buster could wait no longer. With a rush he ran up to the fluffy ball, jaws wide. The jaws closed but now the excited barking changed to yelps of pain. The little fellow, though, was undisturbed. Back came Buster, his jaws closed again, and again he retreated in still more pain. Now in real fury he attacked from one side, then from the other until he could stand the pain no longer. Yelping with pain and in shameful defeat Buster ran for home. The porcupine calmly uncurled, stretched his legs and walked slowly away.
Under the porch floor at home, Buster was in misery. His nose, his tongue, his mouth, his whole head was burning and stinging with fiery needles. The whimpering of the dog attracted his master’s attention. When he called his dog, out he came. With the help of a pair of pliers the quills were soon removed. Now Buster went back to his hiding place under the porch, a sadder but wiser dog.
Would you be surprised if I told you that many folks choose a playmate far more dangerous than that porcine? They choose to play with sin. They like to do many things that are wrong, go places they should not go, listen to unclean talk. Oh, how many sharp, poisonous quills of sin enter into their hearts and minds.
How much better to choose the Lord Jesus for our Friend! He will wash away our sins, if we put our trust in Him.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
ML-01/26/1964