Imprint

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

If you flip through my Bible, you’ll find verses underlined, notes written in the margins, the initials of friends and family next to verses I’m praying for them, and the stains of muddy paw prints.  These paw prints were made by our Labrador in her effort to get on my lap after a trip outside. For me, they are evidence that Adi has been by my side during my morning quiet time with the Lord every day since her arrival five years ago.  They make me think of all the places Adi has left her recognizable print on my life.

From the black fur that clings to my clothes and drifts through all the rooms of our house where it settles and must be swept away. 

To the holes her puppy teeth left in various articles of clothes

To the fact that I am now instinctually drawn to meet and greet every Labrador Retriever that crosses my path

To my preference for dog friendly places. 

To the stash of dog treats tucked into my pockets and purse. 

In the same way, I can look and see the undeniable imprint of Jesus on my life.  By loving Him and walking each day by His side, I can see the evidence of His presence in

The joy that bubbles up in the midst of difficult circumstances (Psalms 30:5)

The peace that guards my heart when faced with the unknown (Philippians 4:7)

The desire to forgive that is stronger than the pull to become bitter (Colossians 3:13)

The strength He gives me for each new day. (Psalms 18:32)

The goodness of loving, supportive family and friends (James 1:17)

The wisdom He bestows when engaged in tough conversations (Proverbs 2:6)

The supply of patience and grace He gives me for people (Ephesians 4:2)

“You are an open letter about Christ which we ourselves have written, not with pen and ink but with the Spirit of the living God….” 

2 Corinthians 3:3, Phillips Translation

If you stopped and examined yourself, what prints of Jesus do you see on your life?

© 2019-2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

32 thoughts on “Imprint”

  1. Such a beautiful post. What a wonderful reminder of the imprint Jesus has in our life. And bring a dog lover myself, I can relate to the fur sticking all over and them half sprawled over you as you sit with the Bible for some quiet time.

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  3. Such a beautiful and meaningful post, Beth. It makes me stop and wonder if others see God’s prints in my life in how I treat others and how I react to situations I encounter. Like Adi’s prints on your Bible or her dog fur on your clothes, do others see the evidence of Jesus in my life? Thank you for being challenging in such a kind yet powerful way.

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  4. I love those paw prints and wish I had some in my Bible — alongside my children’s carefully lettered names from when they first learned to write. Constant furry companions are such a blessing. Such a presence. Such a comfort.

    Sigh. We are grieving for Miles. At 12 1/2, he went into steep decline over the weekend after a couple weeks of struggling. He died yesterday. I’m still processing it, but will write about him at some point. I just wanted you to know since you are such a dog person.

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    1. Oh Nora, my heart hurts for you and to be honest tears are making the screen a bit blurry as I type. Thank you for letting me know so that I can be praying for you and your family. May the 12 1/2 years of furry Miles memories warm your heart and carry you forward in the days and weeks to come.

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      1. 🙂 Thank you for the prayers — and tears! The happy memories are just beginning to crowd out the sorrow of the last few days. God is good. I suspect dogs are one of His gifts to us and Miles was a particularly good dog.

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    1. Yes, He most certainly does when we slow down and look. I know you hear His heart of love and see all the prints He leaves, capturing them with your camera to share with others.

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  7. Thank you, Beth. So many great verses. Often, many posts tell how they don’t see or recognize the work God has or is doing in them. Confessing the various things that need changing within. It’s noble and honest of them but lacking in presentation. Here, you turned that experience by recognizing the blessings of the Lord’s work within. And crediting the goodness of God with areas where He brought out the better you. The “Ebenezers,” those remembered places God made Himself visible. You truly are a living epistle of Christ’s faithfulness.

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    1. GW, I am truly humbled by your words. Thank you for your encouraging reflections. A wise man, whose wisdom’s been gained by the fear of the Lord and age, once wrote a blog about Ebenezers that gave me a much greater understanding about the importance of “building” them. There was a lesson bouncing around in my brain about Ebenezers that I haven’t committed to paper yet. Your comment brought it back to mind. I might need to sit down this evening a do a little writing. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Mary! How blessed you are to have your Grandmother’s Bible and to get to know her through God’s word. Your closing words are absolutely beautiful- her imprint of salvation in Christ lies in me.

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  14. Well done, Beth. If we belong to God, there ought to be evidence to show it is true—our “paw prints” near his lap.🐾 Your scripture verses with spiritual benefits are a great addition to this post. Thank you, and God Bless!

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