And a Little Dog Shall Lead Them
“The wolf shall live with the lamb. The leopard shall lie down with the kid. The calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.”
In 1830, twenty-one-year-old Abraham Lincoln drove a family wagon on their move from Indiana to Illinois. When they got across a wintry stream, they realized one of the family dogs was left stranded. None of the others wanted to go back.
At this, young Lincoln pulled off his shoes and socks, sloshed through the icy mush, and returned with the shivering dog under his arm.
“His frantic leaps for joy and other evidences of a dog’s gratitude amply rewarded me for all of the exposure I had undergone.” (Jon Meacham, AND THERE WAS LIGHT: ABRAHAM LINCOLN & THE AMERICAN STRUGGLE, p.32)
MYSTERIOUS BOND. What about this mysterious bond between humans and dogs? We love loving and being loved by our dogs. Best we can tell they love loving us and being loved by us. I’ve shared the observation before: We teach our dogs to fetch and they teach us about unconditional love.
In our neighborhood of amoebic cul-de-sacs, there lives a goodly number of dogs that walk their pet humans each day. I’m pretty sure we humans remember one another’s dogs’ names better than each other’s.
Our dogs bounding along with us bipeds tend to elicit more conversation than we might otherwise have. Strange how we get to know others and ourselves better through our dogs. When we sense we are not on the same page politically or religiously, we find we can connect and get to know each other better through our mutual love of our pets.
DOXOLOGY FOR ENDORPHINS & DOGS. “We are wonderfully and fearfully made,” says the Psalmist. We are enspirited bodies and embodied spirits. What helps boost the body can also lift the spirit.
Exercise at some level of vigor unleashes those wonderful neurotransmitters – endorphins and company – that can both calm and energize our bodies and souls.
I excel at being an anxious fellow, both for reasons I only too well understand, at times reasons for which I don’t have the foggiest. Daily brisk walks, doing those nutty steps, are a huge part of getting my endorphins endorphining for my soma and psyche. But get this dog fans…
“Many studies find that positive interactions between people and dogs can be beneficial for both species. Increases in β-endorphin (beta-endorphin), oxytocin and dopamine—neurochemicals associated with positive feelings and bonding—have been observed in BOTH dogs and people after enjoyable interactions like petting, play and talking.”
Scientific American, April 6, 2015
GRIEF, GRATITUDE, AND BEFORE DOGS. On a fairly regular basis, new dogs take up residence in our neighborhood. Almost without exception, these now dogs follow dogs that came before them, that have left this life.
Recently: pictured are Masie with her humans, Alyssa and Wells - May Bell with her human, Ricky. Who’s not pictured are Andy, Harper and Bo – the dogs of beloved memory before Masie and May Bell.
A few days ago, Dianne and I came up with a list of at least twelve dogs we have known before their now successors in the 20-years we have lived in Tartan Glen. That includes our Jack (2005-18) before our now Sam (2021-). As I have said before, if you don’t know (about) Jack, you don’t know me.
Here's the deal. Since we got to thinking about all the dogs before the now dogs, I have had informal conversations with several of those neighbors.
Summary: we big time like, love, adore our now dogs. At the same time, we still miss/grieve our before dogs, love them as much as ever. It does not take one iota of love from our now dogs – perhaps makes us cherish even more their time with us.
We all delight in how before and now dogs each have ‘their own personalities.’ (Sam is right here head in my lap as I write this.)
It helps me to remember that God creates non-replaceable creatures. No one – pet or person – can take anyone’s place. We live with the bittersweet twinge of grief as a marker of our capacity to love. Yet by astonishing grace, others – pets and persons – can make their now cherished place in our lives along with those before ones we carry in our hearts.
Gratitude is always good. But gratitude after grief is a God thing. I may have figured this out without the dog factor, but probably not as well.
Edward Hicks’ (1780-1849) ‘Peaceable Kingdom’ evokes Isaiah 11.6. There is a framed print in my church office and at home. The image has little children playing unafraid around fierce animals no longer fighting each other. “And a little child will lead them…”
…And sometimes, it’s a little dog that leads us, too.
P.S. You know any before and now dogs? Cats can count, too.