This was my little man, Sam. If you look closely, you can see fur peeking out from between his toes, a sure sign he was a house puppy, which was fine with me. Being an indoor dog made it easier for me to give him hugs, rub his soft silky ears and tell him how much he was loved and adored.
Sam captured our hearts the second we saw him. James said Sam was the only dog he knew who’d read and memorized the “Puppy Handbook.”
When James first found him on our property, Sam was emaciated and had a severe case of heart worms. Even so he smiled big, wagged his tail and pawed at the air as he danced around on his hind legs. The vet was amazed Sam had mustered that much energy because he wasn’t sure Sam would make it through the next few days, much less survive heart worm treatment. He was adamant, however, that Sam wouldn’t have survived another day or two without us. While both my dogs, Sam and Goldie, have gone to live with God, I’ve been thinking about the way they loved one another.
When we lived in the Little House at the ranch, there was a time when Goldie was restricted to the bathroom—the smallest room of our tiny 22 feet by 22 feet house—except when she went outside on a leash. Goldie had spinal stenosis, a type of arthritis that causes the joints in the vertebrae to swell and puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and causes acute pain.
The first week Goldie was confined to the bathroom, Sam kept pawing at the bathroom door. When I let him in to see her, he walked over to Goldie, leaned his head down until their noses touched and then placed his paw on top of hers. It was the sweetest thing. Goldie perked up and wagged her tail, and with that, Sam laid down in the shower and stayed there next to her until she was better.
We all value friendship and loyalty, but did you know love and friendship is one of the most important components of healing physically, emotionally and mentally? Like Sam, sometimes all you have to do is let your friend know you care. It’s a small gesture, but it means the world to the one in need.
Is there someone you should reach out to, someone who could benefit from knowing someone cares and thinks about them? So what if it’s “their turn” to call you? Send them an email or a Facebook message. Better yet, pick up the phone and call them.
…and thank you, God, for sending us Sam. He needed a good family, and we needed a great dog.
13 thoughts on “DOES SOMEONE NEED YOUR HELP TO HEAL?”
Beautiful memory; Sam and Goldie, too, were dearly loved and loved tremendously right back. I know their places in your heart will ALWAYS be there but you’ve made room for two new, rambunctious lovebugs who got two new places carved out in your heart so quickly…….but we both know you wouldn’t want it any other way. We love and we are loved….
❤❤❤ How blessed are we?!
Beautifully said, my friend! Yes, we are very blessed. xoxox, Brenda
I adore this sweet love story, Brenda. We have almost always had 2 dogs. It makes so much sense when you think about it. Dogs are pack animals, cats are loners yet, people tend to have more than one cat and only one dog. Plus, nothing entertains me more than watching them play and love on each other. Thanks for sharing this love story!
xob
Great point, Barbara, about pack animals versus loners. So true. xoxox, Brenda
Lovely story and thank you for the reminder that we can practice expressing love and concern every day for someone who may need it!
A friend in Maine called me this morning, and I was over the moon to hear from her! Thank you, Sarah!
What we all need: sweet, undemanding affection and support. Thank you to the ‘Sams’ of the world. Regardless of how many legs they have . . .
That’s a moment I’ll never forget, Diane, because it was such a simple act of love… “Just checking on you… I’ll be right here so you aren’t alone.” Animals get it on levels that often go right over a human’s head. Yes, thank you to the Sam’s of the world. xoxox
That’s lovely Brenda. I wrote a post about him on Friday. He was the perfect dog from the day I saw him in a Walmart shopping cart with a cardboard sign that said FREE. Him and several brothers and sisters. I spotted him out, it was my birthday, and me who had never had a dog in her life fell insanely in love with my Jack (mc) Daniels. He was accidentally hit by a truck right in front of my daughter. It was so traumatic for everyone, but especially for her. I love that you remind us of the need to reach out to others. There are a few that I need to reach out to!
Sorry I meant that I wrote a post about my dog!
Thank you for sharing this sweet story Brenda. I’ve been so hurt by people I thought were friends, I could use a few friends like Sam and Goldie.
I’m sorry Doreen because I know how hurtful that can be. Perhaps that’s why I love dogs so much. The have no ulterior motive other than to love you back. xoxox, Brenda
Oh, what a beautiful dog. You can see it in his eyes. The story of Sam and Goldie couldn’t be more touching. I love the analogy for us all to reach out. Beautiful story, beautiful animals.
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