Lessons From God, Through My Dog.

If there was ever a living walking embodiment of the phrase “Bright eyed and bushy tailed” it was my friend, Ridge. The wag of his fluffy tail could relocate furniture and break almost anything it came into contact with. His eyes had a way of conveying understanding and empathy, he shared in any joy or heartbreak that my wife and I experienced. He was my walking, hiking and running partner, we covered miles of trails together and even conquered a few of Colorado’s famous 14ers together. For my wife he filled the role of being the best snuggle giver, constant shadow, protector and trip hazard. For our kids he was the best practice partner for dressing up, painting nails and experimenting with hair-do’s. He was also involved in discipline when I would hold my girls upside down and allow him to lick their face until they turned bright red with laughter and could barely breathe. Ridge gave us so much, as a matter of fact, he gave us all of himself. I lost my friend over the last week, it was a sudden turn, hard and heartbreaking. But he left us with the best memories and with so many lessons demonstrated in his life and love for us. I believe God created these special animals, namely dogs (sorry cats and chihuahuas, not a dog), to demonstrate qualities He would like to see in us. Here are few my fluffy friend left me with, I hope you can apply some to your life.

Be Loyal.

Is there anything more loyal than a dog who is loved and part of the pack of the family? I have never seen anyone or anything as loyal, apart from Jesus. On some of our hikes Ridge and I would be with other people and dogs, to him that was nice but he mainly stayed by my side and when I called for him he always came to me. He never considered leaving me for another pack. He knew my voice, knew my routine, knew my truck by sound, and probably knew my thoughts. The most famous story of loyalty in the dog world is probably that of Hachiko in Japan. Hachiko met his owner at the train station every day after work, on his own not coaxed or led. One day his owner, a professor, died at work. Hachiko came to the station, day after day, at the same time, for ten years. That is loyal. Synonymous with loyalty are the words faithful and steadfast. We are called to be faithful, loyal and steadfast to each other through life. Proverbs 3:3-4 says “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” Let’s remain loyal, first of all to God. Let’s listen to and obey His words written out in the bible. Then let’s be loyal to each other. Be committed to your pack and have an abundance of grace and positive expectations for them. Even on days where I was tired, ignored Ridge, or yelled at him he always forgave me and with bright eyes and a wagging tail accepted me back with grace and expected nothing more than me to love him back, rub his ears, and just allow him to be by my side. Are you a loyal friend like that? Am I a loyal friend like that? Not always, but I am trying to be more like my buddy, Ridge and be loyal to those around me. I am so glad we have a loyal Heavenly Father too, “…I will never leave you nor for sake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Love Completely.

Ridge loved with an all in attitude. He had this way of pushing into you, often between your legs, and pressing in as hard as he could as you rubbed his ears. He would bury himself into you whenever you pet him. He often walked between my legs as I walked and he surprised many people by popping in-between theirs from behind!  The point is that he was there, present, completely and tuned into you. That is a key component of love, to be all in and present. Therapy dogs come to mind whenever I think of the love that God packed into the soul of a dog. There are thousands of stories about how the right touch, the right look, the peaceful presence or the playful nudge of a pup brought about a long lost smile, a few words from someone who hadn’t spoken for years or the comfort and peace that calmed tremors in patients of all kinds. My mother-in-law is deeply involved in registered therapy dog work with her dog, Amica. The miraculous changes that happen keep her going back week after week. Mr. Hill was a non-responsive patient, stroke victim, almost comatose, no interaction, within a minute of having Amica on his lap he raised his head and said, with effort “I like dogs.” The doctors and nurses thought Mr. Hill was unreachable but the love of a dog brought him back to interaction and somehow reconnected him to the world. Ridge loved like that, he brought me and my wife and my girls out of depressions, lifted us from under the weight of struggles and sad things in life. Sometimes the best way to show love is just to be there, be present, be all in. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

Protect Fiercely.

Belgian Malinois or Cain Corso or German Shepherd dog breeds come to mind whenever I think of dogs protecting others. Our military and law enforcement and fire protection members are protected every day by loyal, loving four legged companions. Often these companions lay down their lives for others. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 Because of their love and loyalty almost all dogs have a protective trait in them. Even those terrifying little ankle biting chihuahuas (in our family pronounced, CHI-HOOAH-HOOAH)! Ridge was protective. With his big fluffy ears and a nose that could smell peanut butter buried on Mars he was vigilant in alerting us to trouble. His bark was big enough to keep hoodlums a mile away and he pretty much resembled a bear so that added to the menace. We will never know if he saved us from anything, only his ears and nose knew. He was the example of alertness and vigilance that we need to emulate. In our friendships we should watch out for things that can hurt others. It may be choices they are about to make, attitudes they carry or it could be slander and gossip you hear in the community. Choose to warn a friend to speak into their lives, or choose to stop gossip in its tracks, protect and stick up for others. If you see, smell or hear something harmful address it, don’t be afraid to bark, you never know the protection you are providing. Take care of eachother. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

Focus, Dig Deep.

In 1929 there was a tiny place in Alaska named Nome. Diphtheria was taking the lives of people, mainly children, and the town doctor had no antidote. A thousand miles away the decision was made to tie a package of serum in fur and give it “Wild Bill” Shannon and his sled dog team to make the treacherous trek. And the rest is history, kinda. The story has been cited as a cause for the Iditarod race in Alaska, however that is only partially true, if at all. Shannon’s trek did happen, but the race was created to preserve the trail and history of sled dogs in Alaska (https://iditarod.com/edu/origin-of-the-iditarod-how-did-it-all-begin/). Whether it was the original serum run or the race the simple fact of the abilities of these animals to stay focused and persevere is displayed for all to see. Dogs have this uncanny way to focus all of their energy, whether it is on a tennis ball, a cat, a perceived threat, a job or a treat their focus is laser straight and persistent. For Ridge, the only thing that distracted him from the trail or a climb was a squirrel. Once focused on a squirrel he was like a laser guided missile, even to the point of climbing trees to silence their chatter! There was never a trail, a boulder, or a summit he turned back from, often it was his focus and tenacity that kept me putting one foot in front of another. If we could learn that type of focus there isn’t any goal or dream we couldn’t reach. And how much deeper and effective would our spiritual lives be if we focused and dug deep after the things God has set before us? “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Be Thankful.

Admittedly this quality could be a stretch of intellect or imagination from a dogs perspective. But I invite you to stretch with me. Since our furry friends don’t speak our language we need to look at how they, and we, act. So, what actions show thankfulness to others? How about being eager and happy to see someone? Or a long hug? Or relaxing quietly in their company? Or having seconds of a cooked meal? All non verbal cues that show you are grateful for their presence and what they mean to you. I never came home from work without Ridge running to me, wagging his tail and often almost knocking me over. When I sat down, he often sat against, on me or tried to burrow under me, weirdo. When camping and hiking he sat with me or the girls for hours in quiet and peace. When it came to his meals or treats there was never enough, he was a thankful glutton. Additionally I know that Ridge genuinely wanted to make me happy. I don’t have a number for the times he sat next to me and stuck his furry head under my arm or on my lap, with no expectation from me. I think, in short it was his joy that let me know he was thankful. We should show the same for our pack. Let others know you can’t wait to be with them, give long tight hugs, hang out, eat all of their food and be joyful! Thankfully, we also have language, so tell people you are thankful for them, tell them they make difference in your life. Speaking of telling others, when was the last time you thanked God for the day, the provision, the strength, the air, the food, or anything He provides? I can never thank Him enough for all of that and more including the time I had with Ridge. “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:15-17

Have Fun.

Last but definitely not least, have fun! If you have a dog you know they live for fun. Touch a ball, grab treat, get a tug rope, open your front door and ZOOOM! They are gone chasing fun. If you don’t have a dog, I am sorry, especially if it’s a cat, all you need to do is go to your local dog park and watch. Every tail will be wagging, every ball will be covered in three liters of drool, every tongue will be out and every eye bright. Ridge had a couple things he had super fun with, an almost empty peanut butter jar, a tug rope, every puddle, stream, pond, lake or cesspool! This life has too much drama, too much pain and too much adult responsibility (which I never signed up for) to not break it up with some fun. So, please, chase a squirrel, jump in a puddle, trip your friend (on soft ground), pass gas and look around like “Who was THAT?”, take a walk, take a nap, climb a mountain or throw a ball for dog.  In the wise words of Solomon, “And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15

I hope we can all remember to be loyal, love completely, protect fiercely, focus and dig deep while have a thankful heart in this life sprinkled with some fun.

To my Ridge, thank you being a flesh, blood and fur, so much fur, example of these qualities. Thank you God for giving him to me as a friend, I look forward to climbing and chasing squirrels with him again.

Proverbs 18:24 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”