Everything I Need to Know About Love, I Learned From My Dog

For most of my life, I have never been a very emotional person. I was never one for public displays of affection or cuddling within the privacy of my home. I have often found it difficult to vocalize my true feelings. That is, until I met a girl named Bailey who stole my heart.

There is nothing I love more than snuggling with her and kissing her. I would take her with me everywhere I went if I could get away with it. I tell her I love her dozens of times a day. Nothing in this world makes me as happy as this little girl makes me. I call her my life, my angel, my heart. She is, for me, what no human being has ever been. I am one of those crazy dog people who prefers her company over the company of most anyone else. My relationship with her is easy, unforced, and natural. Loving her requires no effort.

Loving her has also taught me a great deal about God’s love for me:

I love how she wants to be right by my side. Even when we sleep, she wants touch me. I imagine God loves it when we always want to be close to Him and feel Him right by our side.

I love how she gets so excited when I come home, whether I’ve been away for a few minutes, hours, or days. I imagine God loves it when we get that excited to find ourselves in His presence.

I love how excited she gets when I suggest we go for a walk. I love watching her explore the things around her. I imagine God loves it when we get excited about walking with Him and exploring new adventures while yoked to His side.

I love it when she stops to smell the flowers. I imagine God loves it when we stop to enjoy His creation, the seemingly small things that make life so sweet.

I love watching her prance around the yard, ears pointed straight up, head held high, and her little butt wiggling in such a way as if she knows how cute she is, having a ball and completely in charge of her surroundings. I imagine God loves watching His children enjoying the life He gave them. I imagine His heart being so full of love for us the way my heart is so full of love for Bailey when I watch her. I imagine Him smiling as He watches us.  

I love how she wanders off in the yard, busy exploring, but then, once she realizes she hasn’t seen me in a while, she stops to look for me and comes running to me when she finds me. I imagine God loves it when we realize we have been away from His presence for too long and come running back to His side once again.

I love when she runs at full speed up the driveway then stops and looks back with that look on her face that says, “Did you see, that, Mommy? I was fast!” I imagine God loves it when we get so excited about something we did well and look for God’s approval saying, “Did you see that, Daddy? Did you see?”

I love how she comes to remind me when it’s time for dinner or time for her night-night treats. She never forgets. I imagine God loves it when we never neglect to take our needs to Him.

I love it how she comes to get me when she’s ready for bed. When she’s ready for bed, it’s time for me to go to bed, too. I imagine God loves it when we cannot go to bed without first coming to Him.

I love it when she’s decided I slept long enough and wakes me up. I imagine God loves it when we realize we’ve decided to start our day with Him.

I love it when she smiles. I imagine God loves to see us get excited about things. I imagine He loves to see us smile. I bet it warms His heart.

I love watching Bailey play with other dogs. She knows no enemy. Everyone is her friend and there is nothing she loves more than chasing and being chased. I imagine God loves it when we show love for ALL His sons and daughters and enjoy fellowship with each other.

I even love to watch Bailey beg for food. That look in her eye and that silly little whimper, acting as if she hadn't eaten in days. I imagine God loves when we come to Him with all our heart's desires, even when we beg.

I love it when she looks at me. She will simply stare with such a look of profound love. It melts my heart. I imagine God loves when we stop what we are doing, and turn to look at Him with such awestruck love.

I love that she doesn’t want to go too far away without me. She will not walk off if I am sitting down. She will do all she can to get my attention and get me to walk with her. I imagine God loves it when we seek Him first before making a move. I imagine God loves it when we refuse to walk away from Him.

I even love when she’s being ornery. Sometimes, even dogs have a bad day or get into a bad mood. Nothing she does can change how much I love her, though. I imagine God loves us even at our worst. I imagine He understands our bad days and loves us just as much anyway!

I even love her during those rare moments she would rather be alone than be with me. It breaks my heart, but I love her just the same, and get excited when she returns to cuddle with me once again. I imagine it breaks God’s heart when we choose to walk away from Him, even if He knows we will be right back. I imagine any time away from us breaks His heart. I imagine He still loves us just the same and gets just as excited when we return to cuddle with Him once again.

God has taught me a lot about love through Bailey. Every time He teaches me a new lesson through her, I can’t help but smile and be grateful for His unconditional love for me.

 

Bailey's smile. Having a ball playing with other dogs.

Bailey and Momma snuggles. My favorite.



Bailey snuggles.



Bailey begging food from Grandma.

Bailey strutting along, checking out all the sights and smells at Landa Park.

Bailey having fun doing what she loves best, playing with a new friend.

 

Bailey strutting around the yard with her stick.

Bailey needing some alone time.