Our pet “friend” Bentley celebrated his 10th birthday on November 18 this year…he is a great example of all that is noted below…
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If a dog were your teacher, these are some of the lessons you might learn…
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them!
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride…allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they have invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily.
Thrive on love and attention, and let people touch you.
Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass;
On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you may be scolded, don’t buy into the guilt, think and pout; run right back and make friends!
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm; stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal…never pretend to be something you are not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent…sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
- Author Unknown
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Caring not only for other people but also for the living things that God has entrusted to man is the mark of a righteous person. Those who care for and love their pets are on the right track. Pet lovers everywhere—remember to be thankful for the miracle of life that has allowed you to spend precious moments with your pets and loved ones.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”– Josh Billings
“In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.” — W.H. Auden, Poet
“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.” —Kinky Friedman
“To err is human — to forgive, canine.” – Author Unknown
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Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man [Adam] to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. Genesis 2:19-20 NIV
The righteous care for the needs of their animals…. Proverbs 12:10 NIV
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So, in one of God’s Other Ways©, God gave us Bentley to love us unconditionally.
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