One day, while browsing through the Paw Prints Thrift Shop, I came across a 2006 edition of Daily Guideposts, one of my favorite publications for uplifting stories of faith, hope, love, and gratitude. Reprinted here is the May 23rd devotional written by Edward Grinnan, now the Editor-in-Chief and Vice President of Guideposts Publications – don’t miss the closing!

“Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee…”– Job 12:7

I’ve had dogs all my life: my obstreperous boyhood beagle Sparky, Pete the high-strung poodle, my laid-back spaniel, Rudy, the high-energy athletic Lab Marty and my current cocker Sally, a true princess. Yet despite their markedly different personalities, they all had one common trait: the exuberant display of happiness. (Marty used to wag his tail so hard that he’d occasionally fall over.)

Maybe you have just come through the front door after being gone for all of, say, thirty-seven minutes. Or you pick up your canine companion’s favorite toy and wonder aloud if it’s a nice day to go outside. The mere mention of food will sometimes do it. Or perhaps you’ve been away for a long time, and when you get home you’re treated like the prodigal son. You know the dog has done nothing but fret about you, and now that you’re back all those worries are unleashed in a fit of delirium. And when his exertions are finally concluded, he’ll just sit there and stare at you in utter relief.

Don’t assume a dog is embarrassed by these outbursts, that he might be thinking, Look at what a fool I’m making of myself! or Aren’t I too old to act like this? It doesn’t cross his mind. A friend once remarked that she wished she could train her dog to stay put when she came through the door. Why would anyone want to train a dog to do that? It would be like training a flower not to bloom.

God, let me never forget to praise You, to raise my voice in joy, to give thanks for all Your blessings and to wag my tail like crazy when the Spirit moves me!