Dog Food And Comparison

Addison loves her food.

My 47 pound chocolate lab has no friends when it comes to her metallic navy bowl filled with two bountiful scoops of Pedigree dog food.

You could be dying. She doesn’t care.

When friends have watched her in the past, they sneak in a question regarding her eating habits.

“You do feed her, right?”

“Is she eating enough?”

“How’s her diet going?”

Those are just of the few of the concerns I’ve received.

It’s impressive. That girl loves food more than I’ve loved anything in my life. I’d argue more than country boys love their camo. More than white girls love their pumpkin spice.

Last week, we followed our normal routine. I came home and immediately fixed Addison's tasty dish.

I also fixed Oli’s bowl.

Now Oli is my 25 pound Lab mix. I don’t know what she’s mixed with. When people ask I tell them she’s black lab mixed with a brown dog, which is the truth.

While Addison gets two heaping scoops of food, Oli only requires a measly one.

I filled their water bowl and made my way towards their crate. I can hear Addisons tail slapping the sides of the crate in anticipation. She knows what’s happening here.

I walk in the room. Her mouth open wide. I unlatch the crate.

In an instance, both pups are mad dashing towards their food. It’s a race to fullness and fulfillment.

Addison wins without question.

Today, however, she got greedy. She know Oli’s bowl is about twelve inches past her bowl. Oli eats much slower, so I’m assuming Addison assumed there would be more food.

I imagine over the past few weeks, Addison has been eyeballing Oli eating minutes after she finished her own food. So bothered by the fact that Oli was munching on puppy goodness long after Addi had long tasted her own food.

She must have concluded that the time difference could only mean one thing. Oli had more food, maybe even better food, than she did.

So today she made her move. She left behind her own bowl in search of something better. She fully committed and dove head first. She quickly realized her mistake, but it was too late.

She had traded her larger portion for something less. Her desire for more left her wanting. She finished Oli’s bowl in an instant and was left watching her sister sllowwwllly consume her once treasured delight.

There was a sad vibe from Addison the rest of the day. She had taken for granted her own and her greed had betrayed her.

I couldn’t help but think of my own life. There are so many times I get trapped looking at everyone around me. I’m blinded by their goods and disappointed in my own. I compare their greatness with my failures. I want what they have. I despise my own.

I don’t know how many times I’ve lost my way in comparison and greed. Just like Addison, I trade something good for something less.

With tail tucked and ears dragging, I wallow in defeat and misery, because I should have known better.

Today, I try to do better. Gratitude has always been the winning weapon against greed and comparison. It’s hard to compare when you are captivated by what’s in front of you. It’s hard to be jealous, while you are enthralled with the blessing in your own life.

The Bible challenges us to always give thanks and I’m working harder to do so. I find that in my gratitude I find peace, patience, and joy.

I no longer want someone else’s bowl of food, because I never loose sight of my own. Somedays I can even appreciate what they have because I know how much mine means to me.

I start treating everything like a gift. And as long as it’s a gift, I will always feel full.