Lesson #4 (from Max):
DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE ONLY A DOG. YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE... TO SO MANY!
Some saw a just dog when they looked at Max. Some saw more; a loving soul perhaps. Those who knew him best saw something deeper.
One gorgeous late spring day, as was our habit, Max and I took
a walk by the lake. The paths were teaming with cyclists, runners, power-walkers and strollers (as in meanderers, though baby strollers too were being strolled, walked, run and cycled).
I should say that Max was very large for a Golden Retriever. As such, reactions varied when we came face to face with others on the paths. Most children wanted to pet Max, and the shoulder-threatening tug on the leash let me know, he desired the same.
Max seemed to smile at people. (I see it in the picture above.) Most people smiled back. Max relished the attention he usually received. A few people however, reacted differently to Max.
I remember particular back-to-back encounters on one section of the path that spring day. Twice, we approached walkers (actually, meanderers) coming our way. At both of these encounters, the person, and then persons, looked suspiciously at Max, next at me; then gave wide birth. Not just beyond-leash-distance. They stepped off the path and made a good 20' arc around us. One fully turned and never let us out of his sight. I remember thinking the reaction said much more about the man, and his experiences, than it said about Max. He didn't know Max; assuming he was just a dog. (He certainly couldn't see the smile.)
But Max was so much more to so many.
Most of us have been wrongfully accused of being just a... something (you can fill in your own blank.) Outward appearance or even failures of the past have led others to say, "...he's just a dog," and give wide passage. Here's a lesson from Max: Don't listen. Don't believe it. And never speak those words over your own life (or anyone else's).
First: their loss. Really.
Second: Their response probably says more about them than it does us.
Third, and most importantly: DON'T EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE JUST A DOG. YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE... TO SO MANY!
I believe I could see the confusion in Max's eyes when the few responded negatively toward my blonde-red buddy. But Max must have had the same memory constraints I do - it didn't stick with him long. Immediately the smile was back. The tug on the leash was there. And Max was already looking to be so much more to someone new.
For now...
D
a walk by the lake. The paths were teaming with cyclists, runners, power-walkers and strollers (as in meanderers, though baby strollers too were being strolled, walked, run and cycled).
I should say that Max was very large for a Golden Retriever. As such, reactions varied when we came face to face with others on the paths. Most children wanted to pet Max, and the shoulder-threatening tug on the leash let me know, he desired the same.
Max seemed to smile at people. (I see it in the picture above.) Most people smiled back. Max relished the attention he usually received. A few people however, reacted differently to Max.
I remember particular back-to-back encounters on one section of the path that spring day. Twice, we approached walkers (actually, meanderers) coming our way. At both of these encounters, the person, and then persons, looked suspiciously at Max, next at me; then gave wide birth. Not just beyond-leash-distance. They stepped off the path and made a good 20' arc around us. One fully turned and never let us out of his sight. I remember thinking the reaction said much more about the man, and his experiences, than it said about Max. He didn't know Max; assuming he was just a dog. (He certainly couldn't see the smile.)
But Max was so much more to so many.
Most of us have been wrongfully accused of being just a... something (you can fill in your own blank.) Outward appearance or even failures of the past have led others to say, "...he's just a dog," and give wide passage. Here's a lesson from Max: Don't listen. Don't believe it. And never speak those words over your own life (or anyone else's).
First: their loss. Really.
Second: Their response probably says more about them than it does us.
Third, and most importantly: DON'T EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE JUST A DOG. YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE... TO SO MANY!
I believe I could see the confusion in Max's eyes when the few responded negatively toward my blonde-red buddy. But Max must have had the same memory constraints I do - it didn't stick with him long. Immediately the smile was back. The tug on the leash was there. And Max was already looking to be so much more to someone new.
For now...
D
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