Annual Blessing of the Animals - October 6th, 2013
From Pastor Nancy’s Sermon on October 6th, 2013
Dr. Andy Roark, a veterinarian wrote Ten things dogs can teach us about how to get along with others.
1. Celebrate time together. How wonderful is it to come home to someone who is always thrilled to see you, after a day away or even five minutes. Canine companions are over the moon thrilled to be reunited with us. In today’s world the entrance of a loved one doesn’t always happen-let us use this lesson for when our loved ones come home!
2. Prioritize exercise. We live in a stressful world. Exercise is a great way to fight back against tension… I think most dogs would agree that
these walks are wonderful!
3. Embrace the power of silence Listening is hard work. Many of us myself included spend more time waiting for a turn to speak them
paying attention to what our partners are telling us. Our dogs are never waiting to talk. They simply cock their head and try their best to
understand our message.
4. Show love in big and small ways. From laying their heads on our laps while we watch a movie to barking wildly and running in circles when we take them to the park, dogs let us know we are loved every single day.
5. Be yourself. In the words of RuPaul If you can’t love yourself how in the heck are you gonna love somebody else? Dogs have no interest in being anyone but themselves. I think that is why they show affection so easily. They don’t want to impress, they just want to love.
6. Don’t forget to have fun. I have never met a dog who was too busy to have fun, but I have met plenty of people who are myself included. Life is too short not to lay and feel good with those we care about.
7. Be loyal. Dogs don’t complain to their friends when we leave dirty dishes in the sin, gain a few pounds or show up late for an evening walk. I’ve never seen a dog make someone look bad.
8. Treat your loved ones even better than they deserve. We should all aspire to be the types of people our dogs think we are. The boost I get from my dog’s adoration reminds me to give that gift to others.
9. Give each other some space. My dog doesn’t understand some of my hobbies like Facebook or reading. I don’t grasp the joy he gets from chasing birds or rolling in mud. Still we get along splendidly. In fact, having time for each of us to pursue our individual hobbies keeps us happy & well balanced. After all, everyone needs some personal space from time to time. And, the #1 thing we can learn from dogs is:
10. Forgiveness! No matter what we humans do, scoot our dogs away, forget to give them shelter when it’s rainy, too hot or too cold, leave them home for long periods of time, dogs never hold a grudge. They truly forgive and forget!
Sounds like God! Our task today is to Celebrate God’s wonderful creation & renew our desire to care even more for the plants, animals, the planet.
Dr. Andy Roark, a veterinarian wrote Ten things dogs can teach us about how to get along with others.
1. Celebrate time together. How wonderful is it to come home to someone who is always thrilled to see you, after a day away or even five minutes. Canine companions are over the moon thrilled to be reunited with us. In today’s world the entrance of a loved one doesn’t always happen-let us use this lesson for when our loved ones come home!
2. Prioritize exercise. We live in a stressful world. Exercise is a great way to fight back against tension… I think most dogs would agree that
these walks are wonderful!
3. Embrace the power of silence Listening is hard work. Many of us myself included spend more time waiting for a turn to speak them
paying attention to what our partners are telling us. Our dogs are never waiting to talk. They simply cock their head and try their best to
understand our message.
4. Show love in big and small ways. From laying their heads on our laps while we watch a movie to barking wildly and running in circles when we take them to the park, dogs let us know we are loved every single day.
5. Be yourself. In the words of RuPaul If you can’t love yourself how in the heck are you gonna love somebody else? Dogs have no interest in being anyone but themselves. I think that is why they show affection so easily. They don’t want to impress, they just want to love.
6. Don’t forget to have fun. I have never met a dog who was too busy to have fun, but I have met plenty of people who are myself included. Life is too short not to lay and feel good with those we care about.
7. Be loyal. Dogs don’t complain to their friends when we leave dirty dishes in the sin, gain a few pounds or show up late for an evening walk. I’ve never seen a dog make someone look bad.
8. Treat your loved ones even better than they deserve. We should all aspire to be the types of people our dogs think we are. The boost I get from my dog’s adoration reminds me to give that gift to others.
9. Give each other some space. My dog doesn’t understand some of my hobbies like Facebook or reading. I don’t grasp the joy he gets from chasing birds or rolling in mud. Still we get along splendidly. In fact, having time for each of us to pursue our individual hobbies keeps us happy & well balanced. After all, everyone needs some personal space from time to time. And, the #1 thing we can learn from dogs is:
10. Forgiveness! No matter what we humans do, scoot our dogs away, forget to give them shelter when it’s rainy, too hot or too cold, leave them home for long periods of time, dogs never hold a grudge. They truly forgive and forget!
Sounds like God! Our task today is to Celebrate God’s wonderful creation & renew our desire to care even more for the plants, animals, the planet.
