Sunday Morning - “Pye: A Dog Story”
Good morning & hope this Sunday morning finds you and all those in your circle of love smiling!
My wife is working the nursery at church this morning, which means I get to go up and play with the kids. I’m just another kid when I am in the nursery, just bigger! And before you know it, I become a jungle gym! Yes, I love being around the kids and feeling all that love. As I have wrote in the past, it’s amazing how children are always so present and in the moment.
The challenge for me has become trying to stay in the moment with all that goes on in one’s life. When I am close to God and striving for balance, I am able to do this more often. Although I have my challenges and crosses, I am proud to say I have been doing pretty well as of late. Which brings me to Pye.
Walking to and from my jeep I will see neighbors or people walking their dogs quite often. Always seeming to be in a hurry, not a lot of deep relationships are formed during this time of transition. I had noticed a neighbor of mine who was walking a dog who had three legs. Being a dog lover I couldn’t help but wonder what happened and if he was okay. It never seemed to be the right time and always on my way somewhere, it never happened… until a couple of weeks ago. Like I said I have been in a good place as of late and one day I walked around the corner and there was my neighbor and Pye. So I asked if I could pet him and seeming a little shy her self, she paused and then said he was a little nervous of strange people. I said that’s okay, knelt down and held out my hand for him. He looked and slowly walked over to me and smelt my hand. My neighbor instantly seemed to feel better. I asked her his name and she said Pye. I wanted to know the story behind the name and what happened that caused him to lose his leg, but instead I began to pet Pye. My neighbor smiled and said he wasn’t that easily approached. I always think dogs know dog people and I have always had that with dogs. But most importantly I just loved Pye in that moment. I didn’t ask her any questions about Pye, I just kept petting him and thinking how cool it was that Pye had let me into his loving world. I smiled, said thanks and went on my way.
I ran into my neighbor and Pye a couple more times. Remembering how good it felt to just take the time and get to know my neighbor and her dog and feel his love, I just kept stopping to say hi and see if I could pet him for a minute each time. Each time I approached him slowly making sure not to startle or scare him. A few days ago I came around the corner and there was my neighbor, but her back was to me, so she didn’t see me. But Pye did and as soon as he did he hopped over to me on his three legs. When he did, the leash pulled my neighbor around to see what Pye was doing and then she saw me. At that moment Pye came up and licked my cheek. By my neighbor’s reaction, Pye does not do this very often. I was so moved, like I was automatically filled with love, Pye’s love. That moment stayed with me all day.
She could tell that I was as moved as she was. I smiled as always, said thank you as always, but this time it was different and she and I knew why. Being able to have the perspective to do your best, get help in any way you can, continue to grow, learn and embrace life’s lessons, stay close to God and continually seek balance truly becomes worth it when the littlest of moments come along your path and can change your life.
I will never forget Pye and how he made me feel that day…
- tjd
Have a great Sunday!
peace & God bless in two thousand & zen
