"Paradise is open to all God's creatures, we’ll see them
again in the eternity of Christ." ~ Pope Francis
It made no sense. Pillows fluffed, room temperature perfect, night
light casting a soft shadow. But no
matter how hard Joseph tried, he just couldn't get to sleep. Lying restlessly in bed, he tried working
through a new book he’d recently bought. It was difficult to read; his mind distracted
by sneaking melancholia.
It’d been two years. Two
lonely years since Ginger arrived at Puppy Heaven. Joseph knew she went there because “all dogs went
to heaven.”
With a face and demeanor as precious as her name, Ginger was
a Cockapoo - a mix between the low-shedding coat of a Poodle and the affectionate
nature of a Cocker Spaniel. Her childlike
face, molten-brown eyes and cottony fur endeared hearts galore.
A devoted companion, Ginger loved to play ball, go for
walks, sleep by your feet, or preferably, in your lap! She had the cutest little fox paws and loved
to dig in the dirt. Her small,
marshmallow tail wagged endlessly, sometimes even when she napped.
She could be very fussy about her food at times. She’d linger around her dog bowl but never
miss a table meal. And her needle-sharp
teeth made short work of any ‘treats’ that fell to the floor.
But old age finally caught up with the dog that, as a puppy,
moved in constant motion - wagging, wiggling and jumping. Ginger believed she
was part gazelle or cheetah.
Joseph’s world for a time, had ended. She’d been his favorite hello and his saddest
goodbye. He’d not forget her frightened
look as the vet administered a shot stopping her heart.
After yet another difficult page Joseph shut the book and
closed his eyes. Suddenly, he felt the
book being gently pushed down. He opened
his eyes and saw a white, furry nose on top of it. It was Annie, the new puppy who had grown from
4 to 22 pounds in just four months.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
Her answer came quickly; a face licking that soaked his
nose. Joseph laughed, threw the book
aside, and petted his newest, furry friend. Annie had reminded him again that the true
wisdom of life is to be found in simple love rather than in complex text.
Dogs have long ago stopped being just animals. A dog is also a symbol - one of endless
loyalty, of love given without asking for it to be returned. They reflect the best parts in us and help us
find balance in life. We look to them
hoping to find their strength and love in us. We learn from them how to be true friends and
true members of a loving family.
Father of all joys, thank you for this pup
who reminds me that every problem can be solved with just a little more love. For centuries they’ve walked by our sides,
napped by our fires, and blessed us with their friendship. May we always follow their example. Amen
