I have a beagle that has been a lesson in love. She is a rescue. The entire time she has been with us, although she has been trained and obedient, she only accepts love and affection on her terms. She was really sick a couple of years ago and my husband and I thought she was going to die, but after a few days she bounced back. Then today, it happened again. She stopped eating and just wanted to sleep. I thought maybe the end was coming again. But then, she bounced back again.
I don’t know what her life was like before she came into my life. I just know that she had a few liters and may have been in a puppy mill. She probably was a stray for a little while. She definitely was abused. She didn’t trust people at all, especially men. I had never seen any dog shy away from people the way she did. She would always run to a corner and didn’t want anyone to come near her. It took years, but she learned to trust her new family. She even goes up to strangers now wanting attention and not fearing that people are going to hurt her.
Today, when I saw her bounce back again, I realized that her time with me is growing shorter. She is quite old for a beagle and she had a rough time before she came into my family. Yet she hasn’t just taught me lessons about love, she has also taught me lessons about resiliency and endurance. This little girl just keeps going and she keeps insisting on having it her way.
I guess she has taught me so much. I know that no matter how much life beats me down or whatever struggles I face, I just have to keep going and I will be alright. I also have learned that I have to be okay with myself. That dog insists on being herself no matter what happens and that attitude has helped her to be strong. I guess that’s what God wants from me to be true to myself and then I will be the person He know I can be. Now, I just need to stop letting myself get in the way of doing that very thing.
My faith saved me. May God’s peace reside in all of our hearts.
