Sometimes the smallest of events can make your day worthwhile. Here’s a real-life relatiionship story we just received from our friend Signe Dayhoff that we want to share with you.
Signe writes -
I had to take my mother to Petsmart yesterday. She wanted to get some bird and squirrel food and canned cat food. I retrieved the former for her but she didn’t want any help picking out the latter.
Consequently, I wandered over to where Watermelon Ranch, an animal rescue group, has cats and dogs for adoption within the store.
Anne, an official Watermelon Ranch adopter, and another women were trying to get a dog, that had recently had its hind legs amputated after being hit by a car, to use a doggie cart.
The pooch looked uncomfortable, anxious, and concerned. He wasn’t even trying to move in the contraption. They had been laboring for awhile coaxing the sad-eyed dog with treats … with no success.
I asked if they minded if I tried. They shrugged, said go ahead, but didn’t think he was likely to cooperate after just having been placed in the harness.
I talked intimately to the pooch, started scritching his head, then slowly showed excitement in my voice. Then I moved back a few feet, got down on my knees, slapped the floor, and used my best doggie encouragement voice. “Come on!” I said more excitedly.
The dog’s eyes shone. He started wagging his tail. Then he cautiously made two steps toward me. I hugged him and praised him. Walking 10 feet away, I repeated my playful beckoning routine.
The dog’s tail whipped the air. He raced toward me, like a newbie Indy driver, giving me a great big doggie smile as he scooted along.
I felt aglow, almost unbelieving, like a newly-announced MegaMillions lottery winner.
Later, just as Mother and I were about to leave the store, Anne put whipped cream and a cherry on top of the sundae. She signaled me from across the store front. Smiling, she nodded her head to the side, “And you were going to leave without saying ‘good-bye?’”
I looked down. Racing toward me was the pooch. He moved with the ease and confidence of one born with his new “legs.”
I felt a huge smile catch in my throat. “Come on, baby!” I called out, kneeling.
Like a kid experiencing pride in his first two-wheeler achievement, he rolled thirty feet across the tiled floor, past other customers, straight into my arms. The next minute we were a tangle of wiggly hugs, neck scritches, and doggie kisses – a moment you can’t manufacture but can joyously revel in.
*** To learn more about real love and real loving go to:
http://www.judithandjim.com/whatislove
