If any of you have had doggies living in your home, I’m sure you realize that it doesn’t take long to get attached to them. Before you know it they become like a part of the family. I know when they look at me with their big, precious eyes, bump me with their wet nose, and give a happy tail wag, I can’t resist but love them :) Over the past couple years I unfortunately lost two of the sweetest, most special doggies in the world, one very suddenly to cancer and the other just recently while I was on vacation to an unfortunate accident at a caretakers’ home. My recent loss of them has prompted this blog post that is somewhat different from my others. I know they were just animals, but it was still so tragic to lose them because you feel like one of your best friends has been taken away from you. I feel I’ve learned some valuable lessons from my four-legged friends- my Buddy and Molly. Don’t get super excited because I’m not going to say anything profound, but just some bits and pieces of my thoughts and my heart that may serve as essential reminders for us.
1. Stick Close, Hold on Tight – Yes, Loyalty Matters
No matter where I would go, my Buddy and Molly almost always were right there. At the first glimpse of sunshine in the morning, one of them was usually patiently waiting at the foot of my bed. When I would get up to get ready for my day, one of them would always be right outside the bathroom door with their nose pressing gently against it trying to get closer to me. When I would be stressing at my desk over my studies, one would be resting right by my side. And of course when I would enter the kitchen, they would always be there licking their lips! Dogs are faithful companions and will stick by your side ‘til the very end usually no matter what the circumstances. In fact, their number one motive in life (besides food, of course!) is usually to make you as happy as they can. Often you even hear stories of dogs that risk their own lives to save their human companions. I know there were many times I screamed at the sight of a centipede of gargantuan proportions and my doggies both came running to my side barking and growling in their “attack the enemy” mode. They were loyal to me and wanted to protect me at all costs.
No matter where I would go, my Buddy and Molly almost always were right there. At the first glimpse of sunshine in the morning, one of them was usually patiently waiting at the foot of my bed. When I would get up to get ready for my day, one of them would always be right outside the bathroom door with their nose pressing gently against it trying to get closer to me. When I would be stressing at my desk over my studies, one would be resting right by my side. And of course when I would enter the kitchen, they would always be there licking their lips! Dogs are faithful companions and will stick by your side ‘til the very end usually no matter what the circumstances. In fact, their number one motive in life (besides food, of course!) is usually to make you as happy as they can. Often you even hear stories of dogs that risk their own lives to save their human companions. I know there were many times I screamed at the sight of a centipede of gargantuan proportions and my doggies both came running to my side barking and growling in their “attack the enemy” mode. They were loyal to me and wanted to protect me at all costs.
If only we could always remember to reflect that same loyalty and faithfulness to those in our own lives. We all have been given special people in our lives and every day we cross paths with people at work and out and about in the community. Let’s face it, life can be unpredictable, discouraging, and even frightening at times, and everyone needs to know that they have someone in their life that they can count on 100% to be there for them not only when the sun is beaming bright, but also when the gloomy storm clouds cast their somber shadows. Why don’t we step up and be that person today for someone who needs us?
It’s easy sometimes as we go about life to get carried away with our own responsibilities and busy schedules, but it is so important to take time to slow down and remember that there is someone out there who needs us and is counting on our loyalty. John 15:13 says: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Are we willing to go above and beyond for others? Now, of course that may not mean we have to sacrifice our life for them (although for some service men and women it often does), but are we willing to bend over backwards to help someone else who needs someone they can trust?
2. Forgive Quickly and Completely
If you’ve ever had a dog, you have probably noticed that even if you don’t give them all the attention they want, you accidentally step on their feet, you are late feeding them their supper, or you don't have time to take them on their daily stroll in the park, they will still eagerly be right by your side happy to see you. Dogs certainly don’t hold grudges and ignore us when we don’t behave perfectly. In fact, it seems that no matter what we do they still love us.
We need to be more like that in our lives when it comes to forgiveness. It’s an unfortunate part of life that people will disappoint us and maybe even hurt us. But it’s always good to have the policy of “let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Ephesians 4:26).” Being bitter toward others for mistakes and holding grudges and bad feelings inside only hurts us and keeps us from enjoying life. I know from experience that holding things inside is very unhealthy, not only physically unhealthy for us but also emotionally unhealthy for the relationship. The quicker we forgive, the sooner we can go on being happy. And forgiving completely means that we let it ALL go. Don’t hold onto bits and pieces of hard feelings. It might hurt your pride a little bit to humble yourself to forgive, but in the end it will save a whole lot more.
3. Love Deeply and Unconditionally
Do you ever have one of those days when you come home from a terrible day at work or school, you feel like your world is crashing down around you, and you are grouchy and a mess? You don’t feel like talking to anyone because you just don’t feel like you have many nice things to say. Then you feel a slight nudge on the back of your leg from a cold, wet nose. You turn around to find your doggie smiling at you (yes, dogs do smile!) and twitching their tail. In my home, when I would have a terrible day and sit down sometimes in tears, my doggie would be right there as if she were trying to cheer me up. No matter what we look like or how we feel, doggies are right there to love us unconditionally. Usually our human companions want to get as far from us as they can when we haven't had a good day, but dogs definitely love us and want to be with us even when we are not at our best.
It’s easy sometimes as we go about life to get carried away with our own responsibilities and busy schedules, but it is so important to take time to slow down and remember that there is someone out there who needs us and is counting on our loyalty. John 15:13 says: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Are we willing to go above and beyond for others? Now, of course that may not mean we have to sacrifice our life for them (although for some service men and women it often does), but are we willing to bend over backwards to help someone else who needs someone they can trust?
2. Forgive Quickly and Completely
If you’ve ever had a dog, you have probably noticed that even if you don’t give them all the attention they want, you accidentally step on their feet, you are late feeding them their supper, or you don't have time to take them on their daily stroll in the park, they will still eagerly be right by your side happy to see you. Dogs certainly don’t hold grudges and ignore us when we don’t behave perfectly. In fact, it seems that no matter what we do they still love us.
We need to be more like that in our lives when it comes to forgiveness. It’s an unfortunate part of life that people will disappoint us and maybe even hurt us. But it’s always good to have the policy of “let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Ephesians 4:26).” Being bitter toward others for mistakes and holding grudges and bad feelings inside only hurts us and keeps us from enjoying life. I know from experience that holding things inside is very unhealthy, not only physically unhealthy for us but also emotionally unhealthy for the relationship. The quicker we forgive, the sooner we can go on being happy. And forgiving completely means that we let it ALL go. Don’t hold onto bits and pieces of hard feelings. It might hurt your pride a little bit to humble yourself to forgive, but in the end it will save a whole lot more.
3. Love Deeply and Unconditionally
Do you ever have one of those days when you come home from a terrible day at work or school, you feel like your world is crashing down around you, and you are grouchy and a mess? You don’t feel like talking to anyone because you just don’t feel like you have many nice things to say. Then you feel a slight nudge on the back of your leg from a cold, wet nose. You turn around to find your doggie smiling at you (yes, dogs do smile!) and twitching their tail. In my home, when I would have a terrible day and sit down sometimes in tears, my doggie would be right there as if she were trying to cheer me up. No matter what we look like or how we feel, doggies are right there to love us unconditionally. Usually our human companions want to get as far from us as they can when we haven't had a good day, but dogs definitely love us and want to be with us even when we are not at our best.
This has reminded me of the importance of loving those special people in my own life deeply and unconditionally. People are human and make mistakes all the time (and many times the same mistake over and over!), but that doesn’t mean we should get angry, neglect them, and treat them poorly. We are supposed to show grace and love because grace and love is what has been given to us in such great abundance! My doggies have reminded me of what it means to love people as they are- with ALL their faults and shortcomings. As Proverbs 17:17a says, "A friend loveth at all times..."
4. Don’t take a day for-granted
Both of my doggies died rather suddenly and it was something that hurt deeply because it was something for me that was completely unexpected. Yes, again I know they were just dogs, but their sudden passing served as a reminder to me that we should never take a day for-granted with someone we love. We always talk about “tomorrow” and all the plans we have as if tomorrow is a concrete time frame that we are guaranteed to have. The truth is that we aren’t promised a tomorrow. James 4:14 says: "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away." A sad but true fact is that usually all we have to do is flip on the news to hear of the most recent car accident, shooting, or natural disaster that claimed someone’s life. We don’t know what each day holds as we slip into our shoes, step out the door, and face our day. So we must always make the most of the time we are blessed with and forgive quickly and love deeply!
4. Don’t take a day for-granted
Both of my doggies died rather suddenly and it was something that hurt deeply because it was something for me that was completely unexpected. Yes, again I know they were just dogs, but their sudden passing served as a reminder to me that we should never take a day for-granted with someone we love. We always talk about “tomorrow” and all the plans we have as if tomorrow is a concrete time frame that we are guaranteed to have. The truth is that we aren’t promised a tomorrow. James 4:14 says: "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away." A sad but true fact is that usually all we have to do is flip on the news to hear of the most recent car accident, shooting, or natural disaster that claimed someone’s life. We don’t know what each day holds as we slip into our shoes, step out the door, and face our day. So we must always make the most of the time we are blessed with and forgive quickly and love deeply!
So, like I said, I didn’t say anything profound, but I hope you found something helpful even if it was just a tiny reminder of something to work on. I think my doggies were pretty good teachers, don’t you?