It’s the biggest winter storm that Portland has seen in 40 years. We’ve been stuck in our house for nearly a week! Yesterday, my sweeter half and I took our dogs down to the park to play in the snow.
For 45 minutes, the dogs forgot that they were old and creaky. Benny caught snowballs. Hunni went in deep over her head. They met and made a couple of friends, including a very cold Rhodesian ridgeback.
A beagle passed us in a snappy winter coat. He looked to be on a mission.
We climbed a huge hill of snow and body-surfed down it. We saw the beagle playing with a young husky pup.
I made a snow angel. The beagle passed us again. The drifts were way over his head.
His owner came around the corner and called out to him. He was about 5 feet away from me, a young guy, maybe 20 or so. He had a wispy ginger mustache, the kind that you have to carefully comb to make it fit across your lip.
I said, “Your little dog is in snow up to his armpits, and he’s cutting though it like butter! It’s a good thing he’s wearing such a nice coat.”
The guy pretended not to hear me. The beagle zipped by. They walked up the hill.
I was a little annoyed. It’s been snowing for a week. We’re all in this storm together. The least we can do is have some simple friendly conversation.
The beagle turned around as they walked up the hill. He looked at me. There is a certain look that pets give me when they have something important to say. It’s serious and intense.
“Please don’t judge my friend,” he said. “He’s had a very hard year.” He sent a movie of the man sitting on the edge of his bed, filled with despair.
“I’m sorry.” I told the beagle. “I won’t think badly of him.”
“Thank you.” The beagle said, as he turned and followed his owner up the hill.
I’ve been thinking about that beagle for a day now, and his lesson is twofold.
First, we can’t know what the people around us are going through. So we may as well be nice and non-judgmental.
And secondly, even our thoughts hurt. Even me thinking, “Well that was rude”, -that’s enough to make that man’s life more difficult, and my life more difficult too.
I’ve been working on not being so judgmental for a few weeks now. When I prayed for help in this task, I thought I’d get an extra dose of patience. Since my prayer, I’ve experienced a big uptick in irritating experiences and annoying people. Instead of patience, I get practice. God is funny that way!
“Instead of patience, I get practice.” Excellent way to look at it!
“Since my prayer, I’ve experienced a big uptick in irritating experiences and annoying people. Instead of patience, I get practice. God is funny that way! ”
This made me laugh! Yes, it is funny that we get tested when we try something like that. Like, you want to pray for that? Well, here you go!
On a serious note, it was a very good lesson on judging others. And also on what it can mean when we get irritating situations thrown at us…
Loved the story – and the lesson. Isn’t it amazing the way we tend to get what we need – regardless of what we want?
I love this story….. I always try keeping in mind when I’m cut off while driving, or spoken to rudely (or ignored) by a stranger that they must be in a hurry… or having a bad day. This is a good reminder and what a wonderful gift you have to get insight from the dog!
Loved the story, and the lesson.
After my driving experience on Monday, which probably freaked poor Atlas out, I must confess that I am happy to see that the snow vanished while I was gone.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday!