Wandering through the maze of cyclone enclosures, my attention was drawn to this cinnamon-colored creature who had wound themselves into a tight circle in the corner.
Attempting to get her attention, I bent down and began talking to her. One eyelid barely opened, briefly looked at me, and then she buried her head underneath her legs. After a couple of minutes with zero success I sought out one of the workers to see if I could go into her kennel.
“She’s very shy so don’t be surprised if she doesn’t respond,” came the advice from the worker.
Now in her space, I knelt down and gently began to talk to her. The closer I got, the more her whole body began to shake. She was absolutely filled with fear.
The worker offered, “We were able to track down her owner, but they had no interest in coming to get her. It’s also pretty clear she’s been abused.”
Moments later, after a brief discussion with my pet-parenting partner, we decided that this abandoned and abuse critter needed love and a home.
Over the next 14 years this pooch, who we named Lucy, slowly transformed from a homeless, timid, fearful critter into a sweet loving member of our family – Love wins!
The secret sauce: patient, gentle, consistent compassionate care and loving nurturing. Okay, not so secret. It’s what all God’s creatures not only need but deserve. Because every creature holds varying degrees of fear and concern about being left out or left behind.
This last week Lucy went peacefully to her Creator. While she is greatly missed, there is also such an overwhelming sense of blessing to have been part of loving Lucy. Her transformation from fear to love from abandonment to belonging transformed our lives – Love wins!
“Love is patient; love is kind…” 1 Corinthians 13:4
BP