Baxter and I are animal lovers. We grew up with chickens, cows, pigs, mules, dogs, cats…and life just doesn’t seem complete without a few around. 

Recently, we had to put one of our dogs down. He was almost 13.  His personality began to change as we went through 2024-2025. The mischief-loving little dog wanted to sleep. Sometimes he didn’t know us. Sometimes he seemed to be in pain. The little mischief maker was gone. The dog that replaced him was afraid, in pain, and not eating.

Our vet diagnosed him with a brain tumor. Something they could do little to nothing about. So we decided to enjoy him a while longer and then give him up. What a hard thing to do.

Why do I share this? Maybe to say that our Father sends us love packaged up in lots of different ways. This creation we enjoy each day is such a gift. There is so much beauty and diversity. We could not understand or see it all in one lifetime. Man needs beauty. Man needs complexity. We aren’t built for nothingness. We were created to bring God glory and live with Him forever. 

Wouldn’t it be sweet to have other creatures to live with, enjoy, even love? 

Our furry friends love us. Watch how they stay near their owner. Protect their human. Prefer their human. Follow their human wherever they go.  Lots of folks say their dog loves unconditionally…it may or may not be true. My experience is that they do love unconditionally. They are faithful. Perhaps it is a small “taste” of The Greater Love? 

When I tell my little stories, it’s because Abba has pointed me to Himself yet again. This world He provided us for a home, this Creation speaks…no, shouts of His attributes.

If we are watching…looking for Him…He is seen. If we are listening…He speaks.

His gifts are bountiful and beautiful.

So I thank our Abba for our little scamp…Malachi. He was love…faithfulness…and devotion wrapped in a small, furry body.