Although the entire poem resonated to us, we’ve chosen only a few passages to share with you. Excuse us while we go get some Kleenex.
And on the ninth day, God said they needed a friend as he surveyed his young ones with wide eyes.
God told me that I need someone to wake up, kiss me, pee on a tree, sleep all day, kiss me again, and then stay up until midnight watching television.
Do dogs come from God?
A beloved member of my extended family passed away this week. Chief was a gorgeous, 11-year-old, 165-pound pooch. Chief was a gorgeous animal. temperamentally reserved. sweet. devoted. A member of our family, too. Seeing him leave was incredibly painful. Chief was not my dog; he belonged to some close friends, but his passing made me realize how important pets are to our lives. Pets reaffirm our faith in God and His creation. Chief’s passing brought to mind my own experience with animals who have been a blessing to me and my family. This blog is an update to one I first posted more than a year ago, but I still believe its theme and message are still relevant today. May we all find comfort in the knowledge that God demonstrates little snippets of His love via the creatures that encircle us and our family as my loved ones mourn the loss of their own.
I honestly don’t know if puppies go to heaven or not. This is not meant to be a blog that examines Scripture in-depth. Will our dogs eventually join us in heaven? I’m not sure, but I think I know the answer to that question.
My husband and I very deliberately chose to reenter intentional community with my family when we moved to Maryland. As a result, we share a home with my parents and live together. Living with my parents’ dogs is another benefit of sharing a life. My parents also owned a snake (I don’t know his name), a turtle they named “Florida,” some fish, and six dogs. They range in age, but I refer to them as “puppies.” Marley the Great Dane, Toby the basset hound mix, and Abby, Bess, Moose, and Chester the poodles are all present. No exaggeration, their difference in weight was from Abby’s 4 lbs. to Marley’s 164 lbs.
We are extremely happy that we got these puppies. The two youngest, Chester and Moose, are all white and resemble tiny lambs. I’m resolved to publish a children’s book about Chester and Moose’s exploits someday. They were constantly in danger. They would play in the nearby marsh and return home drenched in mud. They were a little slice of heaven, according to my father. It was quite enjoyable to see them play, leap, and bite tails.
Each of the other canines has a unique personality. The meanest one is Abby, the 4 lb. one. She groans and has consistently been cruel to Marley, the Great Dane who is 40 times her weight. She is in charge. Marley, a kind giant, served as the guardian. He would pursue us and kick the door open with his nose if I took the small dogs downstairs. He merely desired to be a member of the family.
We regrettably lost half of our pack. Chester was struck by a car in December 2012. The accident was tragic for the driver. Moose hasn’t quite been the same since it broke our hearts. We miss the two tiny white balls of fur running around everywhere!
We anticipated that Toby and Marley would depart shortly. They were probably over 100 in “dog years.” Toby got cancer, and he passed away while starving to death. It was time to say goodbye when we took him to the vet and was informed that there was nothing more that could be done. It seemed like losing a member of the family to say goodbye to him and the other people.
I shared Marley’s photo on Facebook following his passing. To be honest, there were times when I felt guilty for being so affected by his passing. Having pets at all seems like a luxury in light of the significant problems that plague the world today. Saying farewell is undoubtedly a loss, but I reminded myself that I needed to keep things in perspective. But after that, my friends and the people in my neighborhood were so tremendously soothing, and I started to have very important experiences. I received a gentle reminder that God gave us our dogs and the world around us as gifts. Animals serve as living reminders of God’s goodness, mercy, grace, and joy.
The following was shared on my page by my buddy Angel Cartagena. His comments were a blessing, and I was moved by a brief sight of God’s love for both His creation and me.
Mae: We are praying for you and your family. So few people truly comprehend the importance of pets in our families. In Proverbs 12:10, God speaks on this subject and says, “The righteous care for their animals, while the wicked are always cruel. (NLT) Consider this: when we take care of our dogs, we are being godly—other languages use the term “righteous.” And you may be sure that God will comfort you and your family if He cares enough to acknowledge your love for Marley. Godspeed, Sister.
These remarks impacted me very deeply. Through our puppies and other animals, but perhaps more so through my community, I feel God’s love.
We had a kind of verbal prenuptial agreement when my husband and I got married more than 12 years ago. It included some absurd obligations, such as the requirement that my husband adopt a Washington Redskins fandom. We both continue to be devoted fans of the squad after more than ten years. The final of my husband’s five promises to me was that “one day we would get a Great Dane.” 2013’s Christmas brought me the best present from my hubby.
Scarlett O’Hara Fisk, Katherine. named after the Gone With the Wind figure played by Vivian Leigh.
Scarlett arrived at our home at the age of 12 weeks and weighed 45 pounds! She has been a joy, and I am forward to watch her and I develop together as we celebrate the gift of the puppies that will follow Chief and Marley into the future. All of these priceless animals play, soothe, cuddle, and guard our family, and they will continue to do so. Animal gifts are a way for God to show off some of his grandeur right in our midst. I sincerely hope that everyone will experience such joy and such love.
What quotations are there regarding dogs?
Do you ever ponder the thoughts of your dog? what the speaker intends to say? We’d all adore it if our dogs could at least occasionally communicate. (At the very least, we would be promised some funny dog quotes!) Instead, here are some sayings about dogs from people who adore them. Why not celebrate the fact that they are like family to us? Great sayings regarding man’s best buddy are provided here.
“Only those who know how to listen can understand what dogs say. O. R. Pamuk (author, My Name Is Red)
“The lives of dogs are too brief. It’s actually just their fault. Sligh Turnbull, Agnes (author, The Wedding Bargain)
“Although dogs do not complete our lives, they do make them complete.
Richard Caras (photographer and writer)
“Dogs and horses have made some of my best leading men.
Taylor, Elizabeth (actress)
“I find that I love dogs more and more as I get to know guys.
De Gaulle, Charles
“Pigs appeal to me. The dogs respect us. Cats sneer at humans. Pigs regard us equally. Paul Churchill
“I want to go to the dog’s paradise, not the man’s, because he is a gentleman.
Twain, Mark (author, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
“Every man is Napoleon to his dog, which explains why dogs are so beloved.
A. D. Huxley (author, Brave New World)
“Anyone who has never cleaned a dog has no idea what soap tastes like.
Theodore P. Jones (humourist)
“Despite how beautiful they may be, dogs have a reputation for missing the mark.
Pierre Ferris (author, Once Upon a Marigold)
“On their days off, what do dogs do? They have jobs; they can’t just lay about. Charles Carlin (comedian)
“The only animal who loves you more than he loves himself is a dog. Billings, Josh (humourist)
“Our dogs have such brief lives with us, and the majority of them are spent waiting for us to get home from work.
Mr. Grogan (Author, Marley & Me)
“Did you realize that the canine language has over 300 terms for love?
Theodore Zevin (author, Margarettown)
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, I want to follow them when I die.
Rogers, Will (humourist)
“A truly faithful dog’s faith is the only one that has never yet been tested.
Theodore Lorenz (zoologist)
“If a man has a dog that adores him, you can usually tell that he is good.
A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
“People who don’t touch their animals baffle me. For a reason, their dog or cat is referred to as a pet. J. A. Kintz (author, This Book is Not FOR SALE)
“Get a dog if you want a companion in Washington.
Donald Trump (former president of the United States)
“Even if there could be something wrong with your life if you don’t own at least one dog, there may not necessarily be anything wrong with you.
A. Roger Caras (Author, A Dog Is Listening: The Way Some of Our Closest Friends View Us)
“A dog won’t bite you if you rescue him from starvation and bring him prosperity. The main distinction between a dog and a man is this. Twain, Mark (Author, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
“Dog owners are aware that if you provide them food, water, shelter, and attention, they will believe you are god. Owners of cats must understand that if they give them food, water, shelter, and affection, they will come to believe that they are gods. Hitchens, Christopher (Author, The Portable Atheist )
“When a dog looks you in the eye and doesn’t come to you, you should go home and think about your actions.
Wilson, Woodrow
“Our connection to paradise is dogs. They have no concept of evil, resentment, or jealousy. On a beautiful afternoon, sitting with a dog on a hillside is like returning to Eden, when being idle was not dull but rather tranquil. Kundera, Milan (Author, The Unbearable Lightness of Being)
“A dog will look you in the eyes. A cat will, too, but I don’t even think a cat’s eyes are totally warm-blooded, but a dog’s eyes appear human, albeit less guarded. What do you want me to do for you? A dog will appear to be asking you. I’ll go to any lengths for you. Another question is whether a dog can actually help you if you don’t have sheep—I’ve never had any. The dog is receptive. (Author of Now, Where Were We?) Roy Blount Jr.
“It’s incredible how much joy and love they bring into our lives, as well as how much closer we get to one another as a result.
Mr. Grogan (Author, Marley & Me)
“He made an effort to be good his entire life. But he failed repeatedly. Because he was only human, after all. Not a dog, he. Chuck M. Schulz ” (cartoonist, “Peanuts)
“It has been said that petting, scratching, and caressing a dog may be almost as calming to the spirit as prayer and as calming to the mind and heart as profound meditation.
Koontz, Dean (Author, False Memory)
“Dogs have given us everything they have. Their entire universe revolves around us. Their love, faith, and trust are centered on us. They assist us in exchange for leftovers. The best business decision a man has ever made, without a doubt. A. Roger Caras (author, A Dog Is Listening: The Way Some of Our Closest Friends View Us)
“I enjoy dogs. A dog always lets you in on his or her thoughts. It has four moods. Happy, depressed, angry, and focused. Dogs are also trustworthy and do not lie because they are unable to speak. John Haddon (author, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)
“It’s difficult to feel depressed when an 85-pound mammal licks your tears away and then tries to sit on your lap.
Ingrid Higgins (author, In Your Dreams)
“Science hasn’t been able to determine whether or if dogs have conscious thoughts, much less how aware they are of themselves. This is not unexpected considering that no one can agree on what constitutes human awareness, let alone that of animals. Bradshaw, John (author, Dog Sense)
“Canines are wise. They withdraw into a secluded area to lick their wounds and wait until they are whole again before returning to society. Judith Cristie (author)
“I have observed a fleeting expression of amazed contempt in dogs’ eyes, and I am persuaded that they essentially believe people are crazy.
Steinbeck, John (author, The Grapes of Wrath)
“If I have any faith in my own immortality, it is that a very, very small percentage of people and certain pets that I have known will enter heaven.
Thurber, James (author, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty)
“They [dogs] never talk about themselves; instead, they listen to you while you do and pretend to be engaged in the conversation.
Mr. Jerome K. (humourist)
“It is a divine pastime to watch a dog attempt to devour a sizable piece of toffee. Due to his mixed lineage, Mr. Fusspot has a jaw with incredible dexterity. He joyfully performed somersaults while creating looks reminiscent to a rubber gargoyle in a washing machine. Tim Disceet (author, Making Money)
“When you leave the house without them, dogs’ biggest concern is that you won’t come back.
Scott Coren (psychologist and author, The Intelligence of Dogs)
“But people also control how often and where dogs feed, so this was obviously another matter under their control—they could locate their dogs at any time.
A Dog’s Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
“Love—which biologists, fearful of being misinterpreted, refer to as “attachment”—is what strengthens the link between a dog and his or her master or mistress.
Bradshaw, John (author, Dog Sense)
“Dogs, in my opinion, are the most magnificent animals because they show affection without conditions. They provide as my inspiration for living. Ingrid Radner (comedian)
“I’ve discovered that when you’re extremely distressed, there are benefits to having a dog as silent, loyal company that you cannot obtain from any other source.
Day, Doris (actress)
“The dog has rarely been able to bring the human being up to its level of cunning, but the human being routinely drags the dog down to his.
Thurber, James (author, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty)
“Don’t take your dog’s admiration as proof positive that you are admirable.
Anita Landers (advice columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times)
“On this accidental world, we are completely alone, and of all the nearby life forms, only the dog has formed an alliance with us.
Maeterlinck, Maurice ” (author, “Our Friend, the Dog)
“When my dog Stan is actually slowly scanning the ceiling for flies, I occasionally mistakenly see in his face a nostalgic sadness and existential despair.
Markoe Merrill (author, Nose Down, Eyes Up )
“Dogs’ capacity for love also has a negative side in that they have a hard time surviving without humans. Since this vulnerability was designed by humans, it is our duty to make sure that our pets do not suffer as a result. Bradshaw, John (author, Dog Sense )
“I enquired of this brave animal lover what it was like to give his life in order to save Teddy, a Schnauzer. Salvador Biagiani was contemplative. He claimed that it was more preferable to dying in the Vietnam War for nothing at all. Vonnegut, Kurt (author, God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian )
