Dogs and Love

Sunday, August 26^th is National Dog Day, not to be confused with National Spoil Your Dog Day, which was August 10^th. Celebrating National Dog Day can be as easy as giving your four-legged friend a big hug and kiss (if they like that sort of affection). My little white Chihuahua, Bella, is not an affectionate dog. Try hugging or loving on her and she turns her head away and pushes with her front legs to distance herself from any such advances. Yet she’s my constant shadow and companion whether in the yard, the car or the easy-chair. She knows that nothing good happens at the Vet’s office but is not afraid of the lawnmower or the car-wash. She is perfectly happy in her fenced-in domain playing with her toys or trying to out-fox a tree rat, generally resulting in a race to the nearest fence-line of separation. (Don’t know what she’ll do if she ever catches one). I often find her watching the birds at their feeder and she’s always got her nose exploring the depths of a flower bloom or a bug. Then there are those times when she’s laying on her back in the grass - sunbathing. Of course, she’s always at the door to great me not knowing or caring what kind of day I’ve had, it makes no difference to her, she just wants to share some love. “Dogs have both an outer and inner beauty, an ability to love and a spirit that connects with humans in a way that cannot be replicated by any other living thing” - Colleen Paige. Dogs are forgiving and never hold a grudge – life is too short.

Ten Things You Should Never Do With Your Nose (Metaphorically Speaking) • Look down it at somebody (the sin of pride). • Stick it into someone else’s business (the sin of meddling). • Pick it (the sin of self-destructive behavior). • Get it out of joint (the sin of anger). • Cut it off to spite your face (the sin of bitterness). • Pay through it (the sin of materialism). • Not see beyond it (the sin of selfishness). • Be hard nosed (the sin of stubbornness). • Thumb it at someone (the sin of rudeness). • Turn it up at others (the sin of haughtiness). Rather, let’s keep our noses clean, keep our noses to the grindstone of God’s business, and keep our noses in the Bible!

[Leviticus 19:18; 1 John 4:7-8] The Bible has been promoting the same message for centuries now: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself . . . let us love one another.” We’re told that love is “what makes the world go ‘round.” An old song suggests, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” But just what is love? How would you define it? Much of modern music and media equates love with sexual gratification. Love is portrayed as primarily hormonal. Many people think of love as an emotion, a feeling, over which they have little or no control. They see love as something to “fall into” and, hence, to “fall out of” with the change of whim or the passing of time. For a healthful dose of reality, observe the Bible’s description: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). Yes, according to heaven’s wisdom, love is something I can control, something I can work on, something I can grow at! Love is more than, higher than, raging hormones or ever-changing emotions. Love, is a decision - a decision to put the well-being of another ahead of my own pursuits. Love, is a greeting without prejudice or bias opinion. Love, is thanking God for Jesus, life, hope, happiness and compeer dogs.