~What a dog can teach you about life, suffering, and love~

 

Toby

     When I was younger, every time I had cause to visit the mall, I'd stop by Pet City to look at the animals.  I love animals and for most of my childhood pretended to be the Vet that nursed all my sick toy animals back to heath.  We always had dogs, cats, and the odd animal at our house when I was growing up.  On one particular visit to the mall, I saw the cutest puppy.  He had such long legs and his coat looked as if someone accidentally spattered him with a paint gun.  So cute, but I was just looking, not buying.  Three weeks later and he was still there, I couldn't resist.  The blue ticked puppy with long legs and head that felt like bunny fur came home with me.  Yup, I had Toby longer than I've been married.  

     Today I had to bring my beloved Toby to the veterinarian to be put down.  His hips caused him a great deal of pain and he wasn't hardly eating anymore.  He either hid away from the family or paced around the house whining.  It....it was just time to let him go.   We brought him to his rest today, the kids and I.  As the sedation took effect and he started to drift off to sleep, Toby let out an audible sigh.  The first pain free rest he's had in a long time.  I knew then in my heart this was the right thing.  I stroked his soft, warm fur for the last time.  The real heart break was watching as my little Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck, in a warm baby embrace, as he slept.  I couldn't bear to stay for the actual euthanasia injection so I shuffled everyone out the side door.  I mean, they have a side door so none of the other pet owners get freaked out at the sight of a blubbering woman.  

His empty bed is the hardest to see

     I've been reflecting today why this loss is so hard for me.  I mean, he's just a dog right?  Why on earth should I be in tears through the course of the day over a dog.  Never mind he was in my life for over a decade, a comfortable, familiar fixture in my life.  I think above all else, pets can teach you to value life in a way that everyone gets.  Dogs in particular live to serve and they give without expecting more in return than a pat on the head and a comfortable place by your feet.  They get up the next day and do it again without resentment.  Isn't that how Christ called us to live?  To love, give, and serve without counting the cost, without expectations?  Doing the ordinary with extraordinary love.  Dogs of course can't reason to love in the human sense, but they are loyal beyond comprehension.  They have been known to lay down their life for their owner.  We as the stewards of creation and everything in it, should not take life lightly.  God never breathed the breath of life into animals, only for man was the privilege of a soul held.  That is why it's an act of mercy to end the suffering of an animal, because their suffering isn't salvific in nature. The taking of their life, even in mercy, is a thing to behold.  It fills you with a sure sense that there surely is a God greater than you that authored all life on this earth.

     Dogs can teach us to live in the present.  So often, people are stuck living in the past or worrying over the distant future.  Dogs don't think of yesterday's sorrows, and they don't worry themselves sick over a future they can't control.  They don't hold grudges and all they know is now.  How many time are we not fully present in the moment.  Fully present to our children, our spouses, even to God.  Distracted and multi-tasking ourselves into an early grave.  Be present and mindful of the day, and heed well Christ's words in Matthew, chapter 6, "25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?^o 27Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 28Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

     No matter how much physical suffering he endured, Toby carried on and lived his life to the fullest of his ability.  It's so easy for us to get sucked into the self defeating why me, why this, when will it be different attitude.  In life, you either learn to surf the waves,  or you'll get caught in the undertow and drown.  Suffering finds all of us, we can either choose to drag ourselves through it alone, or we can choose to be carried by Christ through it.  Never let a day go by without uniting your suffering to Christ's suffering on the cross.  Never let a day go by that you don't show those you cherish most just how much they mean to you.  Live life, live it with style.  Wear your heart of your sleeve and wear a smile on your face.  Life is beautiful, and to be cherished especially amidst suffering.  I'll miss you my Toby dog.  As much as for the reflection of what your short life has shown me, but most especially for your constant, enduring, loving companionship.