Woof to you my friends! My dog senses are heightened as I am picking up a little discontentment over the snow and cold temperatures you have been receiving. Many of my heavenly dog pals up here have barked, that they would trade places with you for a day to just be able to feel the snow under their paws, to run and jump and bite the snow one more time! I remember how much easier it was to see the squirrels against the snow, and how much I yelped to go out and try once again to catch that little guy. I never gave up and each time I was released I’d end up at the base of a tree and that squirrel would be way up high on a branch looking down at me, probably snickering that I failed to catch him once again.
      The clocks will change this weekend and spring will be here before you know it. Each season has a beauty all its own, and yes troubles of its own. So often we keep focused on the rough spots and forget to notice the beauty each season has to give. Kinda like life. I have observed that humans seem to allow the business of every day life to overwhelm them and they often neglect to notice the beauty of each season they are in.
      In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 we are reminded that for everything there is a season, and a time for every season under heaven. There is a shield up here in doggy heaven that hangs on one of the large oak trees. It is edged in sparkling gold, and it portrays these words from Ecclesiastes, for every dog and cat that passes by. It’s a reminder that God makes everything beautiful in its own time.
      One thing that is for sure is that us dogs take the moments as they come. We are very accepting and don’t allow little things to stand in the way of our joy. We find the greatest happiness in the small things. If you could see inside a dogs mind you would know that we are rather simple in how we look at you, our caregivers, and the world around us.
      Dogs live in the now. We only care about the relationship we have with our masters, what’s in our hearts, not our egos.
      Dogs are always there for their masters. They will always be at your side. They love you unconditionally.
      Dogs don’t care if their dog bed is the most expensive or just a blanket on the floor or that their master’s car is the biggest and newest, hey riding in a car with the windows down is what matters! The times we remember and cherish are the moments spent sharing love. Love is all that matters.
      Dogs don’t hold back their love until they know if you love them. We just give our love and don’t worry about what we might get back in return. Although, a dog will never refuse a biscuit.
      Dogs can be left alone all day, even neglected but will always forgive and accept a belly rub without question. Time is not measured, we can’t tell time, the quality of time is what matters most to us.
      Dogs are excited and joyful whenever their masters come home after a long day, when you want to go for a walk, when you want to play ball, or even if you want to just lay on the couch and watch TV, we’ll be there.
      Well, I see a group of my heavenly pals coming up the meadow path. It’s time for me to go and play and let my fur down! I’ll leave you with one more thought, “Wag more, Bark less”!
      As I join my heavenly pals, our bodies wiggle uncontrollably with the joy of seeing each other once again. We all take off running through the meadow, our noses in the air....and as always our tails are ‘awaggin.