My friend Paul had to put down Bear, his beloved 11-year-old black Lab. Bear’s lungs gave out, and Paul did the humane thing, although not without, in his words, crying hard and often. Every dog lover understands, for we know all too well how our dogs love us.
My mini bernedoodle, Sugaree, meets me at the door when she hears me on the front porch steps. She jumps in anticipation—all four legs catching air—until I enter the hallway. It’s a love that doesn’t diminish.
This is my welcome every weeknight when I come home from work. I haven’t split the atom, ended world hunger or even brought her a new chew toy, yet I am honored like Pompey the Great in his third Roman triumph.
This nightly greeting has two effects on me. First, it makes me want to be better, to be worthy of such love. This reflection, in turn, helps me to love God, whose perfect love never ceases to draw me out from my own imperfections, from the man I am to the man I should be.
Second, it reminds me how silly it is to think I can love too many people or anyone too much. If loving is willing the good of the other, then there is no upper limit to it. This insight helps me strive to love my neighbor and to be an instrument of peace. Sugaree is my role model, as Bear was Paul’s.
— Mike Kerrigan, from “Our Dog, Who Art in Heaven” (wsj.com, January 3, 2023)
this is beautiful
Agree!!!!
We don’t deserve dogs. They are 💯 better at everything than we are.
So true – animals enthusiastically love us, though we wonder at times how lovable we really are. And if they find us to be lovable, we aspire to be the person who is so wonderful..
More Truth! thanks Mimi.
Wow. Just the beginnings of tears in my eyes, and I have never had the privilege of owning a dog… And because of my circumstances it’s possible I never will.
The following thought pops into my head: I wonder if the universe made the average life of a dog far shorter than the average life of a human so that we would be forced to more deeply contemplate what unconditional love really means each time we lose one of these incredible creatures. That seems like a brutal way to repeatedly teach a lesson, but I think humans need a serious “slap in the face” from time to time in order to be reminded of what is truly important. When I look at the state of the world at the moment, it seems like “several slaps” are in order.
Beautiful post. Thank you Dave. Peace.
PS: Re: your photos of Wally with these “old school science-fiction looking” toys in his mouth: They are priceless. I’ve seen some of the others on Instagram. Thanks for the smiles. People need to smile more. I certainly do. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Comment of the Day Paul. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful!
Thank you for the kind words Steve.
So well stated! How to learn to love unconditionally! It’s crazy to think that our pet has it right when so many have it wrong.
Amen. And to think dogs are just one of His astounding gifts to us! (I can endure not one more down-put goodbye, but, o, those hellos! 😊 Heavenly gold.)
Smiling. More truth!
They don’t live long enough.
So agree with that!!!!
So touching … and brings a smile !
It does!
Yes, dogs and cats (and other animals if well treated) love us unconditionally! I’m remembering how my 3 young children would leap up and down when Daddy came home. (I know that made him feel very loved.) Then, I went out to a part time job, and was shocked when I came home, and they yelled, Mommy-Mommy-Mommy! I had no idea…
We didn’t have a cat or dog at the time, but later, felt their love greetings.
Awwww. Story of the Day! Thanks for sharing Valerie!
Tugs at my heartstrings…
Yes….
Precious
True
Wonderfully put in words
Shedding a tear or three….