Sadie’s Garden
Why is it so easy to love dogs? I believe it’s because of their nature. They are who they are with no apologies. They aren’t constantly weighing choices against a moral framework. They can be manipulative, but it’s generally adorable. They love wholly, forgive easily, are faithful always.
Sure, our dogs can behave in ways we view as “bad.” Man, Sadie could be infuriating. She never responded to the command “come” without carefully considering the pros and cons. But it was impossible to stay mad at her because she was so sweet, so trusting, and–despite her tough-guy act–so vulnerable.
Bailey has her own quirks. She “got really anxious” on our recent trip to the beach to see my family. Translation: while we went to the movies, she jumped on the counter and ate an entire loaf of bread, then pooped in fourteen different spots in my nieces’ room and tracked it all over their bed. Incredibly, they’re all still speaking to us!
I feel like we love animals the way God loves us–consistently and without fail despite our constant mistakes, failures, and inability to stop making the same dumb mistakes for thousands of years.
My inlaws, Ken and Sherrie Rutledge, surprised us by building Sadie’s garden up at the lake. It’s an especially fitting tribute because Sadie loved nothing more than a good “salad bar” whether it was someone’s garden or some weeds in the wild. John and I appreciate this gesture more than we can express.
I love Sadie so much and miss her every day. She would have been 13 years old on May 15th. I euphemistically called her “our teenager” hoping she would make it. My other wish was that she’d make it to kids–she always loved babies and was so great with them. She did, just not in the way I’d hoped. Her last day on earth was the day I received the news our two embryos stuck.
Sadie we love you and miss you every day. I hope you are frolicking around heaven enjoying a nice salad bar, with the wisdom to explain the world to us someday.
