'tis the season

"I'm ready for my close-up!"

I'm grateful, very grateful.

I was walking my dog the other night, and something dawned on me. His ability to forgive and love is amazing.

While we were walking, I realized that he didn't care about the things I did a few hours earlier that hurt his feelings: I took his half-destroyed toy (choking hazard) away. I "shushed" him for barking. I scolded him for stealing a sock from the laundry.

He's very expressive, so it was plain to see that the chastisements hurt his feelings. He sulked for a few minutes, but he didn't hold it against me. He forgave me almost immediately. He was happy -- as if nothing had gone wrong.

I realized that when people upset me, I hold it against them. I'll harbor the resentment until I fall apart. I stay miserable the entire time.

But watching my dog reminded me that forgiveness brings happiness. He has no pride or ego -- he just has love in its most pure form. I think we are all born with that kind of love, and it's a good goal to love unconditionally like that again.

What a beautiful example.

It reminds me of the prayer, "God, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am."


Today, I'm especially thankful for ...

• being sober
• my family
• my sweet dog
  
• my job
• being able to buy gifts for loved ones
• being healthy
• learning new things
• God, because He sends messages in such obvious ways that they're easy to miss ...