I want a dog and other thoughts

One of the realities that we face living in Detroit is that our world can be a dangerous place. I tend to underestimate the dangers around me. I think it is good to not live in fear, but it is also good to be aware of my surroundings and admit we have chosen to live in a rough place. There have been a couple Incidents lately in our neighborhood (which I won't mention because my dad reads my blog!) and it has caused me to rethink getting a dog. I have wanted a dog for a long time because I love animals and I think the boys would enjoy it too. However, dogs are a lot of work.
1. They shed- must get brushed, floors need vacuumed, must take note of allergic friends
2. They poop- must get potty trained and then we have to pick it up
3. They need exercise- I would have to walk it (which I would love) but in the rain, snow, and heat ??
Those three reasons are enough for anyone to reconsider the decision, but with 3 kids so young it makes me think it might be too much. The bests reason I have to want a dog is for safety. People in Detroit are scared of dogs and so are less likely to break in your house or do anything else if you have a dog- the only criteria being that it barks.
Often I struggle with knowing if those three obstacles are worth our safety.


So the other day I was reading Ezra 8 and I was so encouraged. To understand these verses you'll need a little context- basically Ezra was chosen to lead a group of exiles living in Babylon to their home in Jerusalem.

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

I am not suggesting that God will protect us because He protected His people during this time- but I am suggesting I should have the same faith as Ezra. This passage was such an encouragement that we don't need to trust in armies of people or in my case-dogs, but in the Living God. Now we can have things that we use as securities- dogs, alarm systems, locked doors- but we must not turn to those things for gratitude- we must be thankful to God.
Because it seems like such a commitment and responsibility to add another "needy" thing to my life right now I sense God reminding me that safety and protection come from Him and to burden myself with a sense of "security" would be sinful.
The Lord will protect us- be it from dangers of people or dangers of Satan's lies- that's not to say I won't ever experience harm- its just to say my trust needs to be in God and not in things.

It's so cool when God uses ancient scripture to remind me to trust in Him daily.