From the moment they met, Massey snubbed Zsa Zsa. He was not swayed by her cuteness, had no compassion for her travel weariness, her fears over ending up in this strange place separated from her siblings. He refused to acknowledge her presence.  He is selfish, willful and wants attention.  He reminds me of myself on really bad days!  Thankfully, he doesn’t hold a grudge forever.  If I give him space, respect his opinion, or distract and redirect, he eventually does what I expect of him.   

Massey is a Jack Russell Terrier.  Zsa Zsa is my new foster pup, a Catahoula Leopard Dog mix.  Mostly, I keep the two dogs separate although they can see each other through a baby gate. Every night I put Massey in his crate, Zsa Zsa in hers, and hope the 'together but separated' thing will get them used to each other in a non-threatening way. 

 

This 'together but separated' reminds me of when my kids were young. Sometimes their  tussles  got  the best of them.  If no amount of hugs or apologies could soothe hurt feelings and restore play, I’d sometimes hand each child a rag and a squirt bottle, march them to opposite sides of the door and tell them to spray and wipe the glass until they felt better.   If really young, the invitation to squirt and slop brought instant delight.  As they grew so did their ability to stay upset. Rags were taken with much eye rolling and grumping.  Sometimes it took two doors and a couple windows but eventually they figured out no matter how violent the squirting and scrubbing, one kid could never rub the other out.  The trying always caused contorted facial expressions that resulted in laughter and a new readiness for play.  If only adult conflicts could be so easily remedied!   

Days later, Massey's chill does begin to thaw.  And, as the photos reveal, the two are becoming tentative friends.  They are very different breeds with very different backgrounds and very different needs. Yet, they find common ground in just being dogs.  Dogs often inspire me.  I wonder why humans aren't as eager to find common ground in their humanity. 

Savor your friendships.  Be open to new ones, even with those who aren't like you.  Laugh and play a lot!  It really is that simple. :)

Joyfully,
Sharon

See Zsa Zsa’s story at http://bonniebluerescue.wordpress.com/)  I love Bonnie Blue Rescue’s motto:  Bringing families together one pup at a time!  Are you looking for a doggie companion?  If so, please check out Bonnie Blue Rescue.  www.bonniebluerescue.com 

Hope is…..

….the first cry of a precious newborn babe.

….an early morning walk in white, thick mist where only an impression of the
       rising sun exists.  My soul feels the sun’s warmth before my eyes see
       proof.   

….definitely a thing with feathers.   Especially red bird feathers!

….poetry, songs, laments.

…a Jack Russell keeping vigil on the window sill awaiting his masters
      homecoming.

Life is full of changes.   Last month I kept vigil as my mother was in the active process of dying.  This month, I kept vigil as Elizabeth (daughter-in-law) labored to give birth.  Emptiness has been my companion for many months now.  It’s hard not to ‘judge’ this emptiness, to think I shouldn’t have it, to excuse it for sorrow of loss.  Some deeper wisdom asks me to just let it be.   It's not a problem unless I make it into one.

I'm aware that within the emptiness is deep joy.  Not joy as a feeling or emotion, but as being part of a greater whole.  Like nested dolls, each doll is part of a larger doll with the largest doll being God, Christ, Joy.  I hold my new grandson and marvel that he is a tiny ‘whole’ all in himself.  Yet he is nested in my arms, another whole, separate being.  He is nested in the love of his parents and extended family, who are equally nested in family, church groups, cultures, neighborhood, city, state, country, hemisphere, earth, galaxy, universe, other realms…and all are nested in the Greatest Whole  of Love, Creative Energy, God.  All are wholes within the Whole.   It gives me such grounding, such joy!  No matter what emotion, thought or circumstance I experience.

Sometimes the emptiness following me is felt deeply, but Joy is right there too, and quite sustaining.  Perhaps my grandson's birth helped me 'know' this in a deeper way.  I find it awesome that little Jude entered this world with the same gentle soul-soothing music that eased my mom’s transition from this life. What a healing, sacred way to celebrate the circle of life! I like to think mom’s spirit smiled with this little one’s arrival.  As I look into the cradle where Jude sleeps, I feel mom’s joy.  She always loved a baby with a ‘Vicks cough drop’ shaped mouth.  When Jude is hungry he sucks in his lower lip and puckers his top one emphasizing a perfect tiny triangular mouth.   Yes, Love surrounds Jude as he sleeps in the same cradle that nestled his daddy twenty-eight years ago.  

I am held, cradled by Love….always, no matter what happens or doesn’t, nor matter what is felt or not felt.  We are all held in the same Love, always.   Hope and joy are part of the embrace.   

Joyfully,
Sharon

                                                                Happy Birthday Jude!