Snoopy

We added a new member to our household recently. We adopted a 2 month old female beagle that we affectionately named Snoopy Girl. Snoopy shares a lot of the same qualities of the comic strip dog she was named after. Just like the "Peanuts" Snoopy our new puppy has a sense of adventure, stubbornness, and independence. She also shares his wonderful joyousness, enthusiasm for life, and boundless appetite. Most of all, though, our Snoopy shares her namesake’s loving nature. She will bound up and give anyone close enough a shower of kisses. The kids and I don’t mind this at all and will laugh happily at her cheerful affection. The cats, however, often react like "Lucy" and will leap for higher ground to get away from the dreaded dog germs.

Watching my Snoopy Girl has given me a fresh lesson in living. From now on I am going to try and follow her wonderful example. Like her I am going to do my best to greet each day with energy, adventure and joy. Like her I am going to try and find enthusiasm and delight in everything that comes my way. Like her I am going to do all I can to share my love happily with everyone everywhere no matter what I get in return. It doesn’t matter, after all, if you get hugged by "Charlie Brown" or yelled at by "Lucy". All that matters is that you continue to Love.

I pray that Snoopy Girl continues to bless me with her happiness and vitality for years to come. She not only has a love of living, but also a life a loving. I think that God in His loving wisdom must have given us animals like her for a special reason. In the midst of our daily work, struggles, and details of living they remind us of what life is truly about: giving love and sharing joy. May we always clearly see the lessons they teach. May we always follow them in our hearts, souls, and lives as well.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~

[ by: Joseph J. Mazzella Copyright © 2008 (joecool@wirefire.com) -- submitted by: Joseph Mazzella ]