Life’s Curveballs

I read this very touching story today about two dogs, Pippin and Merry, who stayed with their dying and then dead owner for over three weeks. It’s a very sad story about a man that suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and his two best friends, his dogs. It’s also a very happy story of the love and devotion of two loyal friends, the dogs.

You can read the full story on many news websites on the Internet and various blogs and I have posted the complete article from Itchmo on my Flyball Blog titled, Dogs Stayed By Owner’s Body For Three Weeks.

As I said, I posted the article on my Flyball Blog and this was before I attended church this morning. I knew today was All Saints Day and at my church on this day the Roll of Remembrance is read. The Roll of Remembrance is when our church remembers everyone that died during the year within our church family, including friends and family of church members. My uncle, Robert Worrilow, died in June of this year and his name was to be read. I haven’t been attending church as regularly as I should so I decided to attend since his name was being read today.

The Gospel lesson for today was Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV), The Beatitudes…

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

As soon as I heard this reading, I thought about the dogs and their loyalty and selfless devotion. What man among us would be so pure of heart, mourn, and so meek to sacrifice ourselves? Whether or not their behavior is self-aware and altruistic, wouldn’t our world be a much better place if we could be more like our canine companions? Think about it.