From my friend, Stephanie Schatz – all the dogs noted in her note are Rottweilers …
Stephanie writes:
Thanks for taking the time to explain and reassure me that God has a special place for all his creation. Personally I also believe that God created a special companion animal just for man … sorry kitties.
Historically there has been no other animal on earth that has worked for man in so many capacities, comforted, showed extraordinary forgiveness, and even forfeited their life for their human. As the saying goes … the only love you can buy is a dog.
The moment this came clearest for me was when I was volunteering with "Mallory," Bryce's predecessor, at Ronald McDonald House. We were there to entertain the healthy siblings of the children being treated at the hospital.
We were on the patio where Mallory was very engaged in tug of rope against 3 determined little boys. The automatic double doors opened and a quadriplegic girl appeared in what looked like a space age wheelchair that she could operate with one finger. Mallory dropped the rope and ran to greet her and lick that one hand operating the chair. I was amazed!
Then she ran back got the rope and took it to the girl and my heart sunk, until Mallory draped the rope over the girl's hand, sat in place with the rope in her mouth moved her head slowly from side to side, added a playful growl and "pretended" to played tug with this little girl on her level.
I was no longer amazed … I was in awe as I realized that I was witnessing something divine ... something that came from a higher level than dogs supposedly have access to.
I never taught Mallory this 'behavior' and we we're never in a situation like this before or after. This wasn't a circus trick it was an independent act on her part of love and compassion and we know that those traits are Godly.
I'm certain Mallory is in a special place and I'm 100% sure that we will be together again one day. It means a lot to know that I am not theologically alone in my views.
And BTW … if Mallory had not passed exactly when she did I would not have Chad, and if Chad had not gotten sick ... I would not have Bryce. Coincidence? I don't think so. Can't wait to see who God has lined up for me next!!
My thanks to Stephanie for this remarkable story. We’d all do well to pay a little more attention the animals around us. They have hearts, too, and love.
And Stephanie’s right – there is no other species who has befriended humankind as have dogs. Simply because we feed them? No. They know that we need them!
I'm with Stephanie! I truly believe God has a plan for all of us, including our dogs. Although I've never experienced anything as amazing as Mallory's act of love (and I remember Mallory), my dogs have provided me amazing companionship and unconditional love over the years. My late husband always knew he would see his/our dogs in heaven and I have absolutely no doubt they are all happily together. I used to take our Bichon, Georgie, who died 2 years ago, to the nursing home and the residents eyes lit up when they saw him coming. There was unconditional love approaching them in a place that's not always a kind ending to their lives. This small act of kindness and love made an enormous difference in their otherwise uneventful days and their smiles and remembrances of times past were heartwarming. And it seemed as if Georgie knew part of his mission was to go person to person spreading joy, as he did for us for many years.
ReplyDelete