I love my dog. And I’m not just saying that in the cliché’ sense, like how people say, “I love cheese,” or “I love your shoes.” I love my dog. By that I mean that my heart is so soft toward him, he’s completely won my affection (and attention), I want to hang out with him all the time, I love being with him. He cannot undo my love. The affection I have for my dog is special. I can’t think of too many other things/people/animals that I share this affection for. Sure, I love my husband. Some people would say the love I have for my dog is silly. I don’t have kids, so I don’t know, but I hear people say that’s a different kind of love. Billy is the closest thing I have to that.

Since we (my husband and I) adopted him on October 12^th, 2018 (when he was just seven weeks old), he’s brought so my joy into our lives. Even during his teething stage and temper tantrums, he couldn’t undo my love. Even when Billy has earaches, yellow eye boogers, horrendous flatulence, I love him just the same. I love to watch him sitting in the backyard staring into the bushes as he awaits the rats coming out for the night. I love how he can tell what day of the week it is – he knows when it’s time to ride with Mama. Because he knows my routine. It’s unfathomable to me that people don’t let their dogs sleep in the bed. On Thanksgiving morning I woke up with Billy nestled between my head and the wall. He was licking my forehead and my hand. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to see him belly side up, his front puppy legs stretched out. He has a smile on his face, like he’s dreaming. His warm puppy body next to mine keeps me warm at night. And Billy’s never met a stranger. He’s sweet to everyone. He’s so smart, knows words like “front” (as in front yard), “beach,” “want,” “shish kabob,” “walk,” “Daddy,” “Grandma,” “hungry.” I also love that Billy’s always up for an adventure. He loves to run on the beach and swim and ride in the truck. He loves the outdoors.

I once looked up the definition of love in the dictionary. It said for one of the definitions something along the lines of “the affection God has for His creatures.” Maybe the closest I can get to understanding this is the love I have for my dog. No matter how much he chews my arm or vomits in my truck, I can never stop loving him. I’d spend all the money in my bank account for the pup. I love him. And God loves me. I’m sure He loves Billy too. ~