Do you realize that “dog” spelled backward is “God”?  I remember several years ago when I was working with vacation Bible school young folks, we had a craft project where the students used the words LOVE and GOD written on tiles with the two words intersecting using the common O to create a cross reading LOVE GOD.  When I was looking at the completed tasks, one of the crosses read LOVE DOG with the letters reversed.  It made me smile and think, “Also, true words”.  While it was not the assigned task, this little boy words spoke volumes.

Dogs provide us with companionship, listen to our stories, keep our secrets and provide us with unconditional love that is demonstrated every time we walk through the door.  They wag their tales and look at us with loving eyes asking only for our returned love and attention.  I think maybe the Lord put dogs in our lives so we can experience a physical connection with the unconditional love that only God provides.

A year ago, today, I lost my little buddy and faithful shiatzu, Gus. It has taken me a whole year to be able to write about this. He became my best friend and shadow when my daughter left for college.  Like any faithful dog, he was always excited to see me when I walked in the door. Whether I was away for 15 minutes or 15 days, he was just as happy to see me every time.  When we lost him, my heart ached for months and even today when I think about him, it brings me to tears.  I’m certain many of you have shared this same heart-wrenching grief over the loss of a dog. 

My daughter was told by her guidance counselor in middle school when she was grieving for another dog we had lost, “When we lose pets, they teach us about love and coping with death”.  I think that may be true too and was an excellent and accurate way to explain loss to an 11-year-old.  What will always remain true and accurate in our lives is the good news  God loves us unconditionally and we can rest comfortably in that knowledge.

Patty