When our oldest son turned 13 we decided he was old enough to handle pet ownership. So for his 13th birthday we got him a dog, a black Chow/Springer Spaniel mix. Our son was thrilled with his dog. He named the dog Frodo Baggins Jones.

We have a nice fenced in back yard that the dog enjoyed very much. Frodo was thrilled with the yard. He had great fun chasing/terrifying the squirrels, lazing in the sun, playing with the children when they were outside. In the evenings, we would let him in the house in the mud room. Life was good.

When Frodo was around 3 years old, all of a sudden, the yard Frodo loved so much didn’t seem that great. He started jumping the fence and running around the neighborhood. We scolded him but that didn’t seem to matter. We started putting him on a chain when he’d run off but that too didn’t deter him. We talked to everyone and tried just about everything that was recommended to keep the dog in the fence. We even got another dog, Baron, for companionship. Nothing worked. The momentary freedom Frodo had when he jumped the fence was worth it to him to pay the price of punishment. Eventually, we had to get a very strong, very long chain and choker collar in which the dog has to stay on when he is outside. It’s sad, the dog has a decent sized yard that he could enjoy but instead he’s on a leash.

One day I was talking to one of my children who, at the time, was going through some rebellion. The Lord gave me the following lesson from the dog which I shared with my child and now you. Frodo has boundaries that have been given to him by us, his owners. If he would stay within those boundaries, he is protected, safe and has the freedom to enjoy all of the space he has. Unfortunately, Frodo doesn’t think these boundaries are good enough. He wants to roam “free”. What he doesn’t see is that instead of momentary freedom, if he lived in obedience, that obedience would afford him greater freedom.

God gives us all boundaries to live within. When we live within them, we are free to run and truly live. When we choose to go outside God’s will, His boundaries for our lives, we actually put ourselves in chains. Those chains can look different. They can come by way of sin and its consequences, woundedness, loss of relationship with God and the list goes on and on. God longs for our hearts. If our hearts desire is to serve Him, those boundaries won’t be seen as walls rather as a place of security.