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There is a joyous ringing in my house these days.
It comes from a bouncing, jumping, tail wagging, face
licking bundle of happiness with a jingle bell on its
collar. It comes from a rapidly growing, four-legged
shadow that follows my daughter everywhere. It comes
from an innocent faced, brown eyed ball of energy that
has made itself at home in our house and in our
hearts.
Yes, we have taken yet another adorable,
loving puppy into our lives. My daughter named her
Pepper, but we more often call the little, tail chaser
Peppy these days. The name seems to fit this blissful,
little, bark machine. I have no doubt that this small,
cute, and furry pup will soon grow to be the size of a
baby hippo, but it doesn??™t matter. We will love her
forever anyway.
Why do we humans love dogs so much? Maybe it
is because they love us so much. I have four living
with me now and have owned over a dozen in my
lifetime. I can??™t even picture my life without them.
Inmates in prison, the sick in hospitals, and even
patients in mental institutions will lower their
defenses and offer their love again when a dog
appears. Children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly
all live brighter, happier, and healthier lives
because dogs are in them. Dogs truly are one of the
greatest gifts that God ever gave us. They give us
unconditional love just as God does and remind us
daily that we too can love this way if we choose.
Let us all take some lessons then from our
four-legged friends. Let us offer our love freely,
openly, and happily to all those around us. Let us
share our joy, energy, and enthusiasm with everyone we
meet. Let us play, laugh, and enjoy just being alive.
Let us live our lives with a smiling face and open
arms just as they do with a wagging tail and a
nuzzling nose. Let us be a glorious gift from God to
ourselves, our loved ones, and everyone else and make
the world a better place just by being in it. Let us
follow our dogs??™ wise example and just love.
?© 2004 Joseph Mazzella |
