Be Like Jonah

On Aug. 19 I adopted my 4th dog from the animal shelter. He is the cute schnauzer-mix at the end of the couch in the photo of my dogs I posted a few days ago. He was a stray, and the people at the pound had been calling him Noodle. Cute name, but not significant to me. Therefore, I decided to change his name to Jonah.
Jonah may not be a very popular person from the bible due to his blatant disobedience to God to refuse to go to Nineveh. However, when confronted, he was honest and admitted to the crew on the boat that the big storm threatening their ship was his fault and to toss him overboard. Then the big fish came and swallowed him, where he spent 3 days in repentance. By the time the fish regurgitated Jonah, his heart was more than ready to serve God.
Sometimes I feel a lot like Jonah. I do not know exactly where I am to be used by Him, but I know that the tough situations I go through are only for making me stronger as long as I am willing to own up to my sins. I may not have to endure something as dramatic as 3 days in the slimy, smelly, sticky belly of a giant fish, but I have had my share of unpleasantries. Yet in those times, it has forced my focus back on God and I have been able to serve Him as a better person.
And, by the way, I also like the Christian group “Jonah 33,” and I’m even listening to their latest album “Strangest Day” as I type this.