“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

James 3:13 NKJV

Two dogs met in a park one day, one a service dog and the other a stray. The stray eyed the service dog, while the service dog simply nodded and looked back at his Master. This irked the stray.

“I bet I can run faster than you.” The stray barked at the service dog. The service dog simply nodded. This angered the stray more and he began running around the park. 

“It’s because I don’t have a leash tied to a master!” The stray sneered as it ran past the service dog a few times. The service dog glanced between the stray and his Master. Then the service dog simply nodded at the stray again. 

The stray stopped running and growled at the service dog. “Are you so weak that you can’t do anything for yourself? You can’t survive without the approval of your master?” 

“I am in the service of my Master.” The service dog replied.

“And what? You don’t exist outside of that?” The stray snarled.

“Why would I need to?” The service dog questioned with a tilt of his head.

The stray gaped. “For freedom, independence, pleasure, to be the master, the alpha of your own life, your area. Unless you just rather live a pampered leashed life, unable to fend for yourself.” 

The service dog stared at the stray for a moment before looking back at his Master. “I think I would rather live a life of service, thank you.” 

The stray dog bared its teeth at the service dog before stalking away, head held high. The stray was still unsatisfied with his inability to prove his dominance over the service dog and his Master.

The stray figured that a showing of his agility would prove it. He went to the nearby lake in the park. There was a bridge with a thin railing. The stray jumped on it and began strutting along. Other dogs in the park did oh and ah, at the stray’s show of agility. They said he had to be an alpha, a top dog. But the service dog still had his eyes on his Master. 

The stray dog noticed this, and began doing tricks on the railing. So focused on keeping his head high and appearing better, he slipped into the lake. The stray did not know how to swim and struggled trying to keep his head above wate.

He heard a voice but his racing heart and the water in his ears drowned it out. His body was worn out by his tricks and he began sinking. Realizing his fate, the stray gave up. But then he heard a splash and soon, something was lifting him up. The thing carrying him took him to shore, where the stray walked to safety on shaky legs before laying down on the ground. 

The now soaking service dog came and sat beside him. “Are you alright?”

The stray eyed the service dog. “You, you ran over here, dove in, and carried me out?” Again the service dog nodded. “How, and why?”

“I was servicing my Master.” The service dog said before going back to his Master.