There's just something about a puppy for Christmas that melts my heart.
As in the real mushy, almost in tears, melt my heart. That new puppy smell, the big belly, all of it combined to be one ginormous package of LOVE. I feel like a kid.
"She" is the 7 week old black lab that's been bred to be a Seeing Eye dog. A working dog, in no uncertain terms. A dog that will be the eyes for a blind person. A dog that will be freedom for one that is saddled with a disability. A dog that will be accepting of this person because they only know to love, not judge.
"She" will be ours to love, train and socialize for the next year or so, until which time she heads off to the next phase of her training. We're all in this, humans AND cats- although the felines have no idea what's about to hit them. Can't say I'm envious.
Dogs are unique pets in that they give unconditional love. Cats could care less if you're around, as long as you give them food and a nice place to rest, they're good with life. But dogs demand our attention, our love and our patience. A puppy demands even more.
I love the idea that all this love and effort we're going to invest in her will be of some greater good for another person. Animals have this amazing capacity to change people's lives, and we want to be a part of that for someone else. My kids need to understand that it's not about us. Teaching them to love and serve others is easier said than done. For the next year we'll be living out the verse "And above all things have fervent love for one another" (1 Peter 4:8) and it will take much prayer as we endeavor to love this person we don't even know, as we raise their future seeing eye dog.
And yes, it will be tough, very tough to give her up at the end of our time with her. It's amazing that almost every person I've spoken to about this, comments on that ONE fact. "It would be so hard to give it back" they say. As if this should keep us from serving in the first place? What would my children learn if every lesson in life was an easy one? My children need to understand that we give because we have been given much. It's that simple.
Christmas time is the perfect time to remember that principle. How paws-itively timely!
I agree with everything you've said, 100%. I think choosing to teach service and love this way is remarkable. Who knows? If we have success with Maisie here and I don't go crazy, maybe we'll follow your lead!!! I love what you're doing. Of course it will be hard to give her up, but of course that shouldn't stop you. (My friend just fostered two little children for 9 months. Giving them to their adoptive family was hard but beautiful. I learned a lot from watching her selflessness.)
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting project for your family! You will learn so much together through this. We'll be praying for a great experience for each one. This puppy is getting a great family for the year!!
ReplyDeleteSorry we didn't write during the storm time. Glad you made it through that very challenging time and were still giving thanks!