Paw prints in my Bible: 52 weekly devotions for dog loving hearts. Nene Ajayi.
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| Psalms 124:6 – Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. |
🐾 Devotional 1: Chewed, Not Consumed
📖 Scripture: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair."– 2 Corinthians 4:8
🐕 The Story
That Bible has been with me since uni. One of those burgundy leather ones with gold edges and my full name embossed like I’m Joyce Meyer’s cousin. It had notes, highlights, baby oil stains (don’t ask), and yes—teeth marks.
You see, Blaze–my German Shepherd and self-appointed Bible study supervisor–ate it. Or well, chewed it.
It was a Tuesday. Rainy. Children at school. I had finally, finally carved out time to journal and study. I lit a candle (romantic abi?), brewed tea, and left the room for five minutes to silence a boiling pot of beans. I came back and Blaze had chewed Paul’s letter to the Corinthians clean off the page. Just vibes and jaw strength.
I gasped so loud even Stu the cat blinked from the fridge. Raya, our Basenji, calmly walked in, sniffed the soggy Bible, and walked away like, “I warned you about that one.”
I almost cried, but instead I laughed. Deep, belly-wobbling laughter.
Because honestly? Life has done that to me sometimes. Chewed me up and left pages missing. And yet... I’m still here.
🤔 Did You Know?
Dogs, especially young ones like Blaze at the time, are oral learners. Chewing helps them process information and release energy. To them, your shoe and your Bible are equally chew-worthy... until properly trained. 😅
💡 What I’ve Learned
Life is unpredictable.
It chews up your plans, your peace, your perfectly arranged quiet time. But like my mangled Bible, you may be bent, bruised, missing a few corners–but you’re still legible. Still useful. Still standing.
God doesn’t toss you away because life’s chewed you. He reads you anyway.
🧪 What I’m Practicing
I’ve stopped waiting for perfect study conditions.
I now keep my Bibles on a shelf above Blaze’s jawline.
I remind myself that God can still use me–torn pages and all.
❗ What to Take With You
Don’t throw yourself out just because something chewed up your week, your dreams, or your spirit.
If God can use a donkey to preach, a whale to save, and a shepherd boy to slay giants, He can definitely use a mama in Ijesha whose dog ate the Book of Romans.
🔗 Helpful Links
🐾 Bible-Safe Storage Box for Pet Homes
🐾 How It Ended
I salvaged what I could of that Bible, duct-taped Corinthians back in place, and kept reading. Blaze got a proper chew toy (eventually), and now whenever I see that bent Bible on my shelf, I smile.
Because life tried to chew me, but God said, "You are not consumed."
🗝️ Key Takeaway
> You are not the mistakes you’ve made, or the days that got chewed up.
You are useful, loved, and still readable by God.
🐶 Next Week on Paw Prints in My Bible
“Sit, Stay, Trust” – What My Dog Taught Me About Obedience During the Wait.
😅 Affiliate Disclosure (Because Jesus Said, “Render to Caesar…”)
Some links here are affiliate links, which means if you buy Blaze’s chew toy from Amazon, I might earn just enough to buy Stu a new collar... which he’ll hate. It costs you nothing extra, but it funds paw chips and praise.
Until next time,
Stay loved. Stay chew-proof. And keep wagging through the Word.
✌️
– Nene Ajayi
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