Puppy Motivation

Puppy Motivation

The whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

I can’t remember which one of my children brought Itsy home first.

“Whose dog is that?” I asked, a little incredulous that someone would entrust their tiny, fluffy white dog into my children’s grubby little hands.

“It’s Sarah’s grandma’s dog,” they said.

“That was nice of her,” I said as the little dog jumped into my lap and snuggled in. “But if you’re borrowing her dog, you should ask what her name is.”

I found out for myself the very next day, after my preschooler gave me the slip. Realizing that she’d climbed up to open the garage door herself, I quickly raced down the driveway, only to see her a block ahead of me on her bike. As I trailed her down the street at a brisk walk, huffing the whole way, she saw me coming and started pedaling on her training wheels as fast as her legs could go. I caught up to her just as she rang the neighbor’s doorbell.

Joyce, our new neighbor, was pleasant and kind, and quickly invited me and my capricious child inside. When I shook my head over how my trio of girls had borrowed her dog, she smiled and said that her hip hurts, so she doesn’t mind them taking the dog for a walk.

As Ashlyn and I returned home a few minutes later, another neighbor called out to us from his garden and asked good-naturedly why I haven’t just gotten my children their own dog. Shrugging, I smiled and countered, “Why, when they can live vicariously through the neighborhood pets?”

Though I didn’t mention it, I couldn’t help but think: And why not, when they are making new friends?

Scripture tells us time and again to love our neighbor in the same way that we love ourselves, yet it can be easy to overlook those who live closest to us. Tim and I hadn’t taken the time to introduce ourselves and welcome our new neighbors to the area yet, but my gregarious children provided just the push we needed.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Stop waiting for someone to befriend you. Instead, go out of your way to introduce yourself or make conversation with someone you’ve been meaning to talk to.