Our Dogs – Breakthrough To Love

Never having a dog while growing up, I didn’t care about having a pet.  In fact, sadly, I was conditioned to fear dogs.  Then my children taught me about a precious gift.

As a single mom, saving and renting for three years, I was able to purchase a home. By this time, my oldest was 18, and one of the first things he did was adopt a dog without asking!!?   I was not happy and insisted he bring the dog back, and he did.  Before you think I’m a terrible mom, please continue reading.

Was I making this demand because he didn’t consult me, or because I really disliked dogs?   Something inside was just not sitting well. 

 I began to talk to friends. (I think I was looking for someone to disagree with me) because when someone said simply…..”maybe your son NEEDS a dog right now”. That’s all I had to hear. 

Knowing that my children had already had to deal with much on their own, I wasn’t going to deprive them of any kind of love or support.  I called my son and told him to go back and get the dog.  What a roller coaster of emotions!

However, my fear of dogs didn’t go away overnight. I watched my boys, who had an innate love of dogs, shower them with affection. As with most households with pets, I, the mom, slowly began caring, feeding and taking the dogs out and began enjoying their company.

Where was my sudden nurturing of dogs coming from? Were my boys needing to nurture and love? I realized that this was a God-given opportunity, one that was much needed.

Something interesting too…….my son told me that when he went to the pound to find a dog, that “Buster” had just recently been brought in. This does make me wonder when someone says…….”I Didn’t Rescue The Dog, The Dog Rescued Me.”)

As my sons grew up and left, they took their dogs, but I was the dogsitter. Somehow, I didn’t mind it.  I became one of those “dog grandmas you read about”  I was buying toys, treats and even cooking for them when dogsitting.  

Being able to pour out love and caring was a comfort and almost nothing in comparison to the love they gave back.  I’m glad my sons didn’t miss having that, and I’m glad I didn’t miss it too.

Our dogs’ lives are too brief but make an everlasting mark in our hearts. It gives me comfort knowing that just maybe I made my dogs feel very, very loved.

 I keep photos of all of the dogs we’ve had and cared for (Buster, Mella, Red & Toby). It reminds me of the mountains of love they brought to my family and to me, someone who didn’t know what she was missing until her children taught her from their nurturing hearts.  

They say Dogs are Angels in Disguise, I believe it. 

Job 12:7 (ESV)

Psalm 145:9 (ESV)