Welcome all to my very first blog.....ever.....REALLY! I've only very recently started travelling the information super highway, so I'm the one driving really slowly in the wrong lane with the blinker left on for the last eight miles! I've hardly read any blogs and have only been connected to the internet for a few short months, but here I am! Proving once and for all that you can teach an old dog new tricks! ;-)
I've titled this blog "Melissa's Ark" namely because my brain floats around aimlessly for what seems like endless days and nights and is mostly filled with animals.....so I'm sure this blog will be fairly consistant with that theme! But seriously, all animals and especially dogs are a passion of mine. These creatures are a gift from God and a daily, awe inspiring example of His greatness. Some have given their lives to feed us, their beauty and design has inspired us, and their unconditional love and loyalty has enriched us. I adore all creatures great and small and believe we are to care for and respect them. I truly cannot imagine living my life without the close presence of His critter creations!
However, my "ark" is a vast vessel, and though animals are the main passengers on this blog voyage, I also hope to include inspirations from God and my own personal journey. I want to be able to share with you my faith, joys, experiences and trials. Along the way feel free to take a glimpse into an animal obsessed mind and hopefully enjoy true stories of life on my ark as well as tail wagging tidbits like furry facts, Rover's recipies, Fido fashion and of course.....pet puns!
As a simple introduction I currently own over twenty fish, eight gerbils and four dogs.....three Pugs and a Japanese Chin! I work casually at the local pet store, so there is no doubt that I could be adding to my family at any time! Hmmmm, I do have a vacant 40 gallon aquarium....
I spend most of my time at work helping adults with disabilities and enjoying the company of my canines. I help out a bit at church doing puppet shows for preschoolers as well as drama, and am currently in love with bellydancing! I'm taking two seperate bellydance classes and loving every minute of it! So I'm pretty busy most of the time but I still make sure I include all important activities such as time with friends and naps! (and now, blogging!)
But, my allotted time is nearing it's end. I look forward to casting off and seeing where God takes Melissa's Ark! I leave you now with this story that was sent to me and touched my heart. Dedicated to my father's beloved Nicki.
A dog's purpose
Being a veteranarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners Ron, his wife Lisa and their little boy, Shane, were all very attatched to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker and offered to perform the euthenasia procedure in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the six-year-old, Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal's lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so they can learn how to live a good life---like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
So live like a dog;
- Live simply
- Love gererously
- Care deeply
- Speak kindly
- Forgive quickly
