A Picture Of Loyalty

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

LOYALTY CAN BE REVEALED in a variety of ways—a friend defending another, an employer keeping his word, a faithful spouse. But to Cindy and her daughter, Abbey, loyalty looks like a white bichon frise named Baci.

When Abbey, the third of four children, was in elementary school, she was diagnosed with abdominal migraines, a painful condition that led to chronic vomiting every few days—often in the wee hours of the morning. Each night when Cindy heard her daughter heading for the bathroom, she jumped out of bed to join her, not wanting her to suffer alone. Baci always followed close behind.

As Cindy would hold her daughter’s hair and rub her back, Baci would curl up on the floor beside the little girl. When the episode was over—usually thirty minutes later—Abbey, Cindy, and Baci would wearily climb back into their beds.

Eventually, the nightly routine began taking a toll, not just on Abbey but on Cindy as well. Her nightly vigils had resulted in extreme fatigue and exhaustion.

One night, Cindy slept through Abbey’s nightly run to the bathroom. When she awoke the next morning, she was consumed with guilt.

“Oh, Abbey, honey, I am so sorry I wasn’t there for you,” she apologized over breakfast.

Abbey’s sweet smile warmed Cindy’s heart. “It’s okay, Mommy. Baci was with me.”

Cindy’s expression gave away her disbelief because Abbey nodded and added, “Baci followed me into the bathroom and lay down next to me till I was all done.”

Cindy picked up the fluffy little hero and gave her a kiss of gratitude on the head.

It wasn’t the only night Baci was there for Abbey when she was sick. In fact, it happened numerous times over the next few months.

On more than one occasion, when Cindy did wake up and would start running toward the bathroom, she would be met by a sleepy Baci heading back to her dog bed, after seeing Abbey safely back to her human bed.

Baci had already handled it.

Baci’s actions and her unwavering loyalty were a comfort to a sick girl and her exhausted mother—keeping one from feeling alone, while allowing the other to get the rest her body desperately needed.

Thankfully now, ten years later, those sleepless nights and abdominal migraines are a distant memory. And sweet Baci is still providing companionship and loyalty to her most grateful family.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

What does loyalty look like to you? Who is your most loyal friend? How can you show loyalty to a friend today?

Paws & Pray

God, you have given me so many examples of what loyalty looks like. I see instances of loyalty throughout your Word, in my relationships, and even in the animals I love. And yet, there is no one as loyal as you. I marvel at your steadfast love for me. Help me to look for ways to demonstrate your loyalty and love to others. And enable me to be a truly loyal friend.