Over the course of my life, I have had many pets. Dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, birds, gerbils, hamsters, fish - I have run the gamut of creatures that inhabit most homes and share our lives.
Each pet has been different. They all have their own quirks and characteristics, they all bring something different to the life they lead in our presence. But they have all shared one thing in full measure - they make my life better for being in it.
These days, I have two dogs and an aquarium full of fish. The dogs bring joy and laughter into my life, their personalities distinct and separate, and both enjoyed and cherished. Even the fish are fun to watch as they dart around and race to the top for their morning and evening meals.
One of my dogs, a 10" tall Papillion, thinks he is king of the household. He is ever vigilant, always alert to the possibility of intruders disrupting our peaceful lives. He sits with his back to us wherever we are, constantly looking outward to give us warning if there is something to worry about. He patrols the perimeter of the family group, moving from side to side, constantly on the lookout for trouble. He sees himself as a watchdog, an important cog in the family wheel. He knows he isn't up to the job of defending us, so he plays his role as an early warning system, firing off the alarm whenever something is out of order. In his mind, at least, he is providing necessary service, and he is valuable.
The other dog is more relaxed. He lays in front of the fire or on the sofa, waiting to spring into action. But when the alarm goes up, he is on the job, ready to defend his pack from any and everything that threatens us. He is fearless when it comes to us. I have no doubt he would take on whatever he thought put us at risk, because he knows that is his job. In his mind, he is also providing a necessary service, and he is valuable.
From their point of view, they are an integral part of the family, necessary and important, and we need them as much as they need us. I think God created pets so we could experience pure, unconditional, unqualified love on earth. They don't worry about their appearance, or whether they are smart enough or pretty enough or successful enough to be worthy, and they don't care about those things in us, either. They know they are loved and accept it as it comes, and they love us back without reservation.
Today I am grateful for all the pets I have had in my life. Each one has brought something irreplaceable to my life, and together they have taught me about unconditional love in a way nothing else ever could have.
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