have drops put in his ear, I can report he is now healthy. But my friend asked yesterday how you know a dog has an ear infection. I explained that I noticed something was wrong because I could tell he just wasn’t himself.Later last night, I was thinking about her question and realized that the bottomline answer is really pretty simple: We paid attention. We knew simply by observing him that something wasn’t right, and closer inspection revealed the problem. Here comes the spiritual part: People don’t always just say what areas of their lives could use a little tender, loving care. Sometimes you have to pay attention and take note of moments when they don’t seem quite like themselves. You don’t then have to pry into their private matters, but a gentle prayer or unexpected word of encouragement might be just what they need. Before you can offer that, however, you have to be paying enough attention to realize something is wrong. I encourage you this week to take a careful look at the people around you, whether strangers, friends or family members. Their pain may not be spoken, but that doesn’t mean you can’t notice and care.
Blessings,
Brooklyn Lowery
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Though she now lives in nearby Crieve Hall, Brooklyn grew up in Franklin and graduated from Centennial High School. As for Jersey, her handsome dog that’s pictured above…..well, he was fortunate enough to be chosen by Brooklyn at a puppy adoption day at Happy Tales Humane.
Brooklyn is an editor with LifeWay Christian Resources.
Just a Dog
Ellen Perry
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks
Wendy Boehme
like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.”
So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog.” just smile, because they “just don’t understand.”
Richard A. Bilby
Simple Pleasures
Right now most of us are re-evaluating what we had come to view as necessities. Some are struggling to provide the true essentials. Most everyone is tightening up the recreation budget, especially in the middle of the holiday season.
It’s good to take stock of the simple pleasures in our lives. Some have paws and wagging tails.
When I read a book, catch a movie or see a news item about people struggling to make ends meet, there’s often a family dog lurking around in the story. And I guess it would be understandable if some financial advisor didn’t approve.
But when you look at the P&L, it seems like a pretty good deal. There’s not a much better Return on Investment than a perpetual happy greeting and an occasional lick on the nose.
Randy
