Conversations with My Dog by Zig Ziglar

Conversations with My Dog by Zig Ziglar

Author:Zig Ziglar [Ziglar, Zig]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2004-12-31T16:00:00+00:00


Chapter 8

Jealousy

Envy and Dirty Dog

Some things you just know immediately, and when Dirty Dog walked into my office his pace was considerably faster than normal. He lay down at my feet and looked up at me with those soulful eyes of his and in no uncertain terms said, “Dad, we need to talk—bad—right now.” He had my undivided attention, so I asked him what was on his mind.

He said, “Dad, it's about Emmitt.”

I said, “What about Emmitt?”

He said, “Well, these last three days with him have been unbearable! I cannot believe his incessant talking about what he's doing at the hospitals and some of the nursing homes he visits, and about how he inspired Cindy to expand her therapy ministry throughout fellowshipchurch.com and now, Dad, he's even saying it was his idea to start the Paws To Go ministry. And that's all Emmitt has talked about, how they went to this hospital and did this, how they went to another hospital and did that, this nursing home, that nursing home. Dad, I'm just sick and tired of it!”

I said, “Well, Dirty Dog, that surprises me! I thought first of all that you and Emmitt were big buddies; second, that you would be thrilled that he and Cindy have been doing some really neat things to help people who need therapy or even just new friends.”

His response was, “Aw, I know that, Dad, and I can understand why Emmitt would be a little uppity about it, but Dad, enough is enough is enough!”

At that point I interrupted him to say, “Dirty Dog, it sounds to me like you're just plain jealous, and jealousy is not a very healthy emotion to carry around. As a matter of fact, it will eat you up. Just to make certain I'm on sound ground, I'm going to tell you what my trusty 1828 Noah Webster's dictionary says about jealousy. It says, ‘It is that passion or peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it. Or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves.’ In short, Dirty Dog, jealousy is awakened by whatever may exalt others, give them pleasures and advantages which we desire for ourselves. In a nutshell, Dirty Dog, left unchecked, jealousy grows quickly and leads to serious sins. The longer you cultivate jealous feelings, the harder it is to uproot them. The time to deal with jealousy is when you notice yourself keeping score of what others have or do. And Dirty Dog, that's what concerns me. You are headed in the wrong direction!”

“Well, Dad, this has taken a turn I did not expect when I came in. I thought you would be more empathetic to my situation.”

“Dirty Dog, discipline is something you do for someone whereas punishment is something you do to someone. I want to discipline your thought life, and your jealousy is something I have never seen before.



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