Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

So, we finally buckled down and and got a couple of dogs. It’d been almost 3 years since our collie had died, 3 ½ since our lab had passed. Went to a no kill shelter are picked up a Plott Hound (Easton – he came with the tag Eastwood, changed it) and a Shepherd mix (Dylan – he came with Dino….). We’re calling them E and D for short. I’m OK with the names because I think it’s funny – when they misbehave I can bark out F and E and D! Can’t get a good photo of them yet because they won’t sit still long enough. Let them outside and E just runs in big looping circles, just happy to be out of the kennel we found him at finally. D is about 6 months younger we’re told. He tries to keep up with E, but his legs aren’t long enough – yet. I just had one of my shoes dropped off at my feet in spite of the fact that we have more toys than we’ve ever had… E just sits there with a smile on his face when you pet him, yet there’s such sadness in his eyes. If I ever would know his story.

Yet, when the door opens and he’s outside, he runs these big looping circles. When I was a kid, one of my favorite stories was “The Diggingest Dog”. It was about a dog, hard concrete floor in the pet store, kid bought him, couldn’t dig because all he knew was concrete, when he finally figured it out he dug up the town. E’s like that when he gets out and stretches his legs. Long, loping strides, big looping circles, rejoicing to be able to run. Rejoicing in the freedom of just being free to run. Rejoicing in the beauty of open space. Then, sitting next to me, he wants to be petted. Constantly reassured that he’s a good dog, that he’s OK, that he’s safe. And the dog is smiling. Dang. Rejoicing in the day the Lord has made. On a different note, he also likes to get up on the bench of the kitchen table. Then we turned around and he was on top of the table. Hmmmm. If I ever would know his story.

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

It’s what we’re called to do. D & E have brought a whole bunch of excitement back into our home, which through the deaths of my wife’s folks and her youngest daughter, and through natural attrition, has begun emptying as the kids grow older and move into their own lives away from here.

Rejoice and be glad that this temporary time we have here on earth is just that. Yet, still rejoice for the beautiful sunrise, even when you can’t see the sun. For the joy you bring to a person’s life, or a Plott Hound and Shepherd mix, or what ever. Be the light on a hill that we’re called to be. Get to know their story.

Shine so that others may see your good works and give glory to our Abba, our Father in Heaven. Rejoice in the glory of His beauty, His creation, His peace, His love. Live in the simple truth of I Am. And get to know their story.

Soak up the blessings of a smiling dog. Share the blessings of a smiling dog.