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       There are times, more often than not, when I find the company of animals more comforting, more peaceful , more enjoyable than the company of people.  They are like children.  I love them for their innocence.  I believe what St. Francis of Assisi  wrote:  Every creature under heaven serves and acknowledges and obeys its Creator in its own way better than you do.   They praise God by simply being what they are meant to be.

       We can learn a lot from animals.  I have learned a lot from the dogs in my life.

       Most of all, dogs teach us about unconditional love…..the kind of love that God has for us.   Some dogs may not have caring owners and may even be abused.  But they don’t stop hoping.  They don’t stop loving.  They don’t stop trying to please us.

       They teach us to love everyone no matter what color skin, age,  or status in life. 

       They teach us to play hard and play often. 

       They teach us how to rest.   Dogs can rest anywhere, anytime but so often, seek out the best spot.

       A working dog puts all its effort into its job, something a lot of people need to learn to be successful.  But they do it because “service” to others is just part of their instinct.

       Dogs teach us about loyalty.  If you are their “person” or their animal friend, they will stand by you no matter what.  I read a story about two dogs that somehow broke loose from their yard and ended up on a highway.  One got hit by a car and the other stood watch over him as cars passed by on either side.  Good ending to the story ….they were both rescued.

       They teach us to be wary of strangers and to protect our homes and families.

       They teach us to be sensitive to what others are feeling.   A dog knows when you are sad, happy, angry or stressed out.  They try to make it better.  They are wired to sense things that are oblivious to most people.  They know the bad ones, and react or warn us.

       Dogs teach us to enjoy the moment. …to enjoy whatever we can.    They teach us that every day is a treasure.  Right now, we have a 13 ½  year old boy who has a cancerous tumor on his paw.  In spite of chemotherapy and numerous consultations with several vets, it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.   One vet cautioned us to be “aware of his quality of life”  in attempting to treat him.   We don’t want our beloved companion to suffer, but we want to extend his time with us as long as possible in spite of the expense and extra care.  He has always been a smarter than average dog, so we thought we’d let him tell us what to do.  Some days  he limps more than others, but he’s showing us that even in old age and even with afflictions and some pain,  there is still much to enjoy.  A very good lesson to learn.  He may not walk a mile to the park as he did a year ago.  But he walks to the car and tells us to drive him there.   With a bandaged foot, he jumps in the lake…tail wagging.. splashes around and relishes the coolness of the water.  He lays near the playground and  watches the children play….his favorite thing to do for a long time.  Some days, he just enjoys being in the front yard, nose searching the wind for news.   He is never alone these days.  We have to constantly watch him, but we know he just loves being with us as much as we love being with him.

       Dogs teach us patience and perserverence.   They will wait and wait for us,  though some do become frustrated and do bad things like chewing on furniture while we are gone.   But then they show us how to humbly ask for forgiveness.

       I believe that dogs or pets of any kind make us better persons.  We cannot be so self absorbed when we have a pet that demands our attention.   As pet owners we try to understand these creatures who are so different from us, yet share so many of our emotions.  We become more aware of the need to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves. 

       Dogs and other pets are gifts of love, on loan, from God.  St. Francis, a patron saint of animals, believed that all nature speaks of divine presence.  Even the smallest and most insignificant being possesses the mark of divinity.  Because we all share the same Sacred source we are all  related not only to humans, but to creatures.  Interaction with creatures, when we acknowledge a divine presence, is a form of prayer.  So enjoy your long walks with your furry friend, knowing  when your whole heart is in the moment and you are connected to an inner peace, the peace of God, then you are praying the highest form of prayer.

       Dogs teach us to appreciate a world without words… a world where our senses become more active than our mouths and our intellect and our emotions: a world where we connect  to nature. We hear not only the obvious birdsongs, but the rustling leaves of the trees.   We don’t just smell the roses, but the grass and the soil and the air.  We begin to see small details in the big picture of life.  God tells us to be silent , be still and “know that I am God”.   And sometimes , sitting in silence beside your dog,  that furry head turns and  looks at you as if to say,  “This is what life if all about.  Life is good.”