Meet Eleanor, our newest heartbeat.
When I look down at Ella sleeping in my lap, I
pray that she will be healthy, and I ask her to please grow old. I just melt at
the sound of her little baby breaths as she cuddles up close, completely
unaware of how quickly she has captured us. I could hardly put her down the
first few days we had her, letting her nuzzle up in my neck and put her little
paws all over my face, and attributing all those standard adorable
characteristics one imagines for their animals. We are absolutely in puppy love
over here.
Truly, dogs are good for the soul. If you have ever
met Quimby (our 5 year old Rhodesian), you will understand how his calm and
steady presence could have aided us through those first couple years of medical
school and law school (and other heartbreaks along the way). Dogs—and to a more
extravagant degree, babies, yikes—demand us to focus our attention outside of
ourselves, thereby offering us an opportunity to develop our servant character.
This activity, despite its requisite sacrifice of our sleep or cash or food or
comfort, also deepens our bond towards that which we serve (I suppose this is
why people get so obsessed with their children). I dare say this demand of
ourselves even makes us better humans overall, as a well-practiced servitude
lends fulfillment and satisfaction, and facilitates a better approach to all
our relationships. The diligence we committed to in our promise to raise this
puppy well sure helps us take turns rolling out of the bed at 4 am when her
little cries require a trip outside to use the restroom, and even affect how we
try to help each other during the day when we notice a hint of exhaustion on
the other’s face. I think this puppy will be a good thing…
…so, little Ella, please grow old with us.
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