A Dog's Love

Posted on February 9, 2023

Dogs have a very important and special place in our lives. If you have ever had a pet, you no doubt know what I’m talking about. They provide comfort, happiness and stress relief. They help keep us moving which is good for our physical health, and they love and don’t judge us which can have profound effects on our emotional health. God sure knew what He was doing when He created these loyal creatures, and our connection with them is analogous to our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

I have the most adorable mini blue heeler named Roo (technically my daughter’s dog) who is my little buddy and is involved in many of my daily activities. When I wake up in the morning, he’ll be a big lump under the blankets, and I have to tease him out with a treat so I can make the bed. Then he’ll go outside to do his business right away, and then again…and again; I think little dogs have tiny bladders and just really need to go a lot. He’s actually pretty funny in that, when he needs to go outside, he’ll whine, run to the bathroom and then head towards the door to outside. At least he has the right idea.

Throughout the day, he will follow me wherever I go. He sits and waits for me to complete my workouts, though sometimes he’ll pop in the room so he can come and lick my face…and my glasses. For some reason, his little tongue always seems to get my glasses. When I come home from shopping, he has his routine of running out with me to retrieve the groceries no matter how many trips in and out. He’s at my feet when I’m cooking, waiting to catch dropped morsels of food and even watches out the window while I go feed the horses and goats. Since he’s a blue heeler, he’s supposed to like being out by the herds, but he’s actually afraid of them so he seldom makes that trek to the barn.

Of our three dogs, he’s the spoiled one and takes full advantage of it by making himself at home on the furniture. He even has a little bed in my office. He likes to burrow, so he will crawl under any blanket he can find. Sometimes he’ll even try to wiggle under my hoodie while I’m wearing it. In 2020 when my kennel was really slow because of Covid and I had a lot of free time, he would sit with me every day in my recliner as I read and researched. He provided companionship and joy, especially during the really tough days of my husband’s illness. Roo obviously couldn’t talk to me, but I believe he could sense that I really needed him there. He naturally provided the comfort I needed.

When we got him, he was so tiny that he fit in the palm of my hand. I remember picking him out of the large litter of pups. They were all incredibly cute, but we ultimately chose him (even over the biggest of the litter whose name was Cheeseburger). We then stopped to pick up some supplies for him on the way home, and he was afraid of everything. He was hard to carry because he was so tiny. With lots of attention from the kids and the other two dogs, he quickly found his place with us and came to trust and love us as completely as dogs do. Now he gets carried on hikes and gets to travel to places like Montana.

I don’t know if God had created dogs for any purpose other than guarding and herding, but they have definitely become so much more than that in this world. I’ve been operating my boarding kennel for seventeen years, and I see every day the love the owners and pets have for each other. Whether a guide, companion, or protector, dogs are amazing gifts and can have profound effects on our well-being.

You may be wondering why I’m writing about my dog, but I am blessed to have him, and I wanted to share how he has served me. He has earned his day in the spotlight! Dogs rely on their owners for provision, companionship and love just as people rely on God for those same things. We can imagine how much contentment a dog feels when those needs are fulfilled because we experience the same joy when God bestows those blessings on us. God shows up in our lives in so many ways, including our bond with canines.

If this resonates with you, I would love to know your thoughts on how your dog has impacted your life. Sometimes it just feels good to reminisce about our furry companions and the joy they bring.

“In His hands is the life of every creature…”

        from Job 12:10