I’ve spent the past few days hanging out with and checking on Miss K. Her family went out of town and left her here at home, just a few houses down from mine. I’ve gone over a few times a day to check on her, make sure she’s eating, and let her out to go to the bathroom.
Miss K is a canine friend of mine.
And she is a love.
I have yet to learn her story, but she only has one eye. She is so well-behaved that she has the run of the house when her family is gone. She is protective and has to be sure it’s me before I can get inside the house good. And she is smart. And fast.
This evening before her people were due home in a couple of hours, I went over to let her out once more and to say goodbye. She has a tennis ball that she loves and she shyly brought it to me once a few months ago when I was hanging out with her. She’s so good at tossing it from her mouth just so, and it rolls right to me. Amazing. Miss Sophie has yet to acquire that skill. Actually she has yet to figure out that she has to LET GO OF HER TOY for me to be able to throw it when she brings it to me, but that’s another story.
Miss K and I went in the backyard. She was excited because it was a pretty day, she loves to chase the ball, and I think just maybe she’s starting to like me just a little bit. This wasn’t the first time we’ve done this, but for some reason I paid more attention to her movements this time. I watched her watching the ball in my hand. I couldn’t fake her off for a minute. She knew when I released the ball and when I didn’t. With her one good eye, she could track it and chase after it at the same time and she never. missed. a. beat. She didn’t run into a tree or lose the ball or anything other than keep her eye on the prize and get it.
Yes. Amazing.
As I watched her, I thought about how whatever her story is hadn’t kept her from doing something great. She has literally and figuratively kept her eye on the ball and done amazing things.
How often have I let my physical and even emotional wounds define me and keep me from trying to do something?
Far too often, y’all. There have been times in my life when, if there was a doctor’s excuse to be had, I would’ve taken it. Hurt shoulder, headaches, tired/wore-out-ness, grief, pain, heartache…..I’ve let any one of those things give me pause at one time or another.
And I’m not saying I shouldn’t have.
What I am saying is that once Miss K started healing after whatever caused her to lose that one eye, she didn’t sit back and let that always affect what she tried in this life. Instead she wove that “loose end” into the blanket of her story, and she kept on going. With only one eye at that point, but she kept going nonetheless.
And I think that’s pretty fabulous.
Tonight I’m thankful for a precious dog who reminded me not to leave all these loose ends dangling, ready to trip me up or slow me down. She reminded me that it is important to stop and take in what is happening, but then it’s just as important, if not more so, to weave it in, keep my eye on the ball, and go for it.
And that’s quite something for a sweet little dog to have mastered in her short life.
I’m happy for her that her family is home now, but I’m going to miss that shy little powerhouse.
May we all have such courage to keep on going, to chase that ball, and never lose sight of what’s ahead. No matter how hard the past has been.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 