I love this picture.
I don't know about you guys, but I have heard a lot of bad things about pit bulls. To tell you the truth, I never, ever thought I would own one because of the cruel brutality that they're known for.
Ripping other dogs to pieces...attacking babies...barking constantly...vicious teeth...and lock jaw.
Why would I ever want to own something like that? And it was not until I met Benz (pit pictured above) that I began to realize the messed up thought process that we as humans have. This dog is probably in the top five of the most loving, gentle, peaceful dogs I have ever come across.
Loves to cuddle...sleep...lick (almost to annoying state)...love...play...and smile. I mean smile because this dog can really smile. I couldn't of asked for a better dog, and I speak for Hurly as well. Hurley looks up to her like a God.
The lady across the street from us stares out her window at us when we bring her out front to play...then when we go inside, she comes out to smoke a cig...then right as we come back outside, she hurries inside, locks the door and stares at us through her blinds.
Isn't this just like human nature? To instantly judge a book by it's cover. And the only reason I tell this story is to make the point that all to often, we take the outside...the box that something is packaged in...and place assumptions on that very something for the name it is given. Sure I have had a crappy steak, but I didn't stop eating steak. Yes, there is such a thing as a bad, soft, brown apple...but there a million to one delicious, crisp, sweet apples just alike. Sure pit bulls have been known to be pretty vicious, but name a breed that hasn't and I'll give you a quarter...or many quarters. I was attacked by a chihuahua once...I had nightmares, and not to mention tiny scratches all over my calves.
The lady on last nights shark week episode said it perfectly,
"Like people make mistakes, so do sharks. It just happened to make its mistake on me. Oh well."
See we tend to project certain characteristics on people because we have heard of things in the passed, came in contact with someone alike in the past, or have heard certain things about that certain person. And all I have to say is everyone makes mistakes...every single, last, one of us has messed up. We are all short of perfection. Everyone in history has made mistakes. There was one guy who never made a mistake...who was perfect...but we can save that conversation for another time.
Let's chose to love people rather than judge people. Invest in people... get to know people...build relationships with people. Cause all in all, one bad apple doesn't ruin the whole bunch nor does one bad steak cause every other one to be cooked well-done.
Never knew it would be comfortable to sleep like this...guess it's worth a shot.
Or like this...
Every morning I get the opportunity to wake up next to a beautiful tamale. She is steaming hot and spicy. This tamale is named Mercedes Doyle and I get to call her my wife. Lucky me, she came with a warm heart, sarcastic humor and a knack for making me the giddiest person ever when she is around.
Not only that, but she drools on herself sometimes and it is extra attractive.
This tamale was wrapped 25 years ago today...with all the best ingredients.
-Trust
-Honesty
-Forgiveness
-Love
-Compassion
-Gentleness
-Kindness
-Joy
-Peace
-Patience (especially for someone like me and two dogs)
-Humor
-Sassiness
-Great facial expressions
-Not the best mathematic skills
-A heart for Jesus and people
And I love every single thing about her. I wouldn't trade her for anything and she is served best with a side hot sauce...preferably Cholula or Tapatio.
Happy Birthday babe! You da bomb diggity.
Here she is in all her glory!
I took Hurley in today to the vet...needless to say, it was very uncomfortable for me and I can't even imagine what it felt like for him.
Two things up his butt...one that took a temp and one that pulled poop out. I felt so bad for him, especially with all the people standing there and watching...I dread turning 50.
Never knew being an uncle would be this cool...even though I have yet to meet the little man, I am super stoked to be that uncle that takes him out and buys him what ever he wants, and spoils him, and then drops him back off at home with a sugar high and ice cream covered face.
This here is Braxton Matthew Baugh. Gonna be a champ.
I have come to realize a few things this last week, thanks to a grape and dog.
#1: Lost a grape and spent a few good moments looking for it. Finally found it and saved me the discomfort of knowing that a grape would be rotting away somewhere attracting bugs and a stench.
#2: I watched as my older dog let my younger dog, eat out of her bowl, despite her eating out of it first.
Now two lessons I found in these two incidents, people are worth searching for and sacrifice matters.
We all know someone, like my grape that goes missing...gets lost, and we never search for them. We don't care what happens and we just let them run off to rot.
Jesus said in Luke 15, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home."
Lesson: Find joy in bringing people home.
Sacrifice is a foreign thing. Who wants to give up something for someone else...its tough. Its the selfish nature of humans.
Jesus says in John 15, "Great love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
Sacrifice is love. Funny how you can learn this from a dog.
Today we lost a good member of the family...a dear friend to my wife. They had been with us since we started dating. Sorry to lose you buddy and farewell.
"Every body is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing it is stupid." Albert Einstein
Love to all, and to all a good night.
Until next time.
-JTD-
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