The Tail of Two Dogs

Everything I need to know about Thanksgiving I learned from my dogs. Our family owns two and as any dog owner knows, each one has its own personality. In observing the differences between these two dogs, I have learned how to (try to) maintain an attitude of gratitude. Unfortunately, I am also convicted of my own ingratitude by watching them too.

Our first dog, who has been with us for eight years now, is a Jack Russell Terrier named Skippy. We bought him as a puppy from a pet store in Iowa where we lived at the time. I remember the first time I picked him up and his whole body fit in the palm of my hand. He became a metaphorical handful as he went through his puppy stage (which for a Jack Russell lasts about three years). He has calmed down quiet a bit in his old age but still dominates the lives of all who are around him. He lives in the house and has slept in a bed with a human almost ever night of his life. He always gets the final bite of whatever I am eating, gets to ride in the car, and is pretty much spoiled in every way.

Our second dog has been with us for three years. Luna is a Chocolate Lab that we saved off the streets in Mexico. She was a walking skeleton, too young to be away from her mother when we found her. She was blind in one eye and we did not think she would live through the week. We took her home and she ate until she looked like a water balloon that was about to explode. Thankfully she recovered and has grown into a beautiful, healthy dog that brings joy to our family. One problem that has remained though is that she has never been able to control her bladder. We could never afford to have that fixed so she has to live in the back yard and only gets to come in the house for cold nights. Even then she has to sleep in the laundry room.

I often feel bad when Luna sits outside the sliding glass door and watches Skippy get to snuggle up on the couch with us. This is where the difference in attitudes shows itself. Skippy is so used to living inside and getting to sit in my chair with me (when I bought my chair, I shopped until I found one wide enough for him to join me) that he becomes demanding. When he wants to lay down, he follows me a round and whines until I sit and pull out the blanket for him. If I sit and read, he gets under my book to nose it out of the way so I can pet him. And petting him with one hand isn’t enough; he will nose my other hand until I rub both his ears and belly. Luna just sits and watches us. If we even look at her she jumps to her feet and wags her tail. If we come out and pet her she is in heaven. How come the one who gets pet all the time demands more and never seems satisfied but the one who rarely gets attention, relishes the little bit she receives and is happy?

The difference really manifests when it comes to food. As I said, Skippy almost always gets the last bite of my food. He gets to “pre-clean” dishes. But when we have food he acts like he has never eaten in his life. When we hand him something, he will take our fingers off if we are not careful. But when we give food to Luna, she will actually take it gently, lay it down, and rub her head gently on our hand. She would rather have our affection than our food. Skippy wants it all and if he has to choose, I think he would take the food over us. Luna won’t even eat the gift until we have gone inside and there is no more chance for attention.

All of this convicts me because many times I am like Skippy. I have it so good but always want more. I become demanding. I whine when I don’t get my way. I need to be more like Luna. I need to be more thankful for every single blessing I have in my life. I also need to learn to be more interested in the one who gives my a gift than in the gift itself…