A Part of the Family

It's obvious that a family pet grows into the lives of the family like it was a person, and it's a sad experience when their dog, cat, bird, or whatever animal they've adopted into their family dies.  I was told of a family that was expecting the death of their dog, which had been suffering from cancer.  I can imagine this mother and dad along with their six-year old son, gathered together at home with their dying dog and the veterinarian, who was there to make the parting easier.

One must admire the lad for his wisdom, that parting with their dog was part of living and dying.  For him to have the answer to God's plan helped the situation immeasurably.  He volunteered that dogs don't live as long as people live, because it doesn’t take them as long to learn how to love and be nice.

We recently observed that characteristic in the personality of Bristol, a Golden Retriever, which is the pet of our daughter, Janine and her family.  From the day she brought her home as a puppy, Bristol was loving and nice.  Now, she's full-grown and just as nice as she was then.  When Janine drives to our place, and is about a block or so away, Bristol is already whining because she recognizes where she is going.  She knows she will soon be petted and loved by Ruby and by me. When she enters the door, she goes down on the floor wiggling and crying with happiness.  She wants to be petted and have her belly rubbed.  No one in our family is so affectionate as Bristol.  We hide our feelings, but she doesn't.  It must be wonderful to be loved and to give that much love.

We naturally love our pet when it exhibits so much love.  We can all learn a lesson from our pets and from Bristol, and be able to reveal our love to those we truly love.  Pets display their affection in different ways.  Some are like Bristol, while others will jump all over you, but that's because they lack training.  They must be taught early in their lives because they don't live as long as we do.  Love your pet and overlook the work it causes.  Your dog loves you so much and in turn you will make life comfortable for your pet.

We used to have a pet.  Her name was Peach, and our kids loved her.  That little collie missed them too, when they were away from home attending university.  When Earl returned at Christmas and was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace, Peach crawled a short distance, then a little farther, until she had her nose in his lap.  He was overcome with emotion.  Peach didn't make a sound.  Coming over to him and putting her muzzle in his lap assured him that she loved him and was happy that he was home.

The story of the young lad knowing why pets don’t live as long as people, reminded me of our pet, Peach, and how much she loved our kids.  She must have missed them considerably when they were away to college, because she surely loved having them return.