Apart from that day being my first attempt on making cookie dough from a recipe I found on the back of the bag of semi sweet chocolate chips I brought from Sprouts, It was an ordinary day. I was quite pleased with myself. I just finished molding my cookie dough into balls, freezing most of them and keeping two of them out to be baked. I turned on my oven and while I wait for it to finish preheating, I decided to relax and less than a minute of my butt and couch touching I was startled by a loud “CLANG!!!” which almost sounded like KA-BOOM!
Flash, aka Mr. Wiggley-butt, my mini Aussie Shepherd, just managed to eat one of my cookie dough balls and dropped the other one on the floor along with by baking pan. Before he could eat the other cookie dough, I managed to angrily shout his name, grab the cooking dough from the floor and I then proceeded to snatch him by his collar yelling that he is going to bed…which really means he is going to his crate to reflect on his bad behavior. While this was happening, my husband calmly reminded me that shouting at the dog will do no good. (Flash was alright after this incident, in case you are wondering)
Or I remember the time, I was sitting on my brand new couch with my legs propped up on the ottoman, just relishing how comfortable and beautiful our furniture were when I heard this hair-raising scratch, scratching behind me. I screamed!! “KIIIIIIRRRR—BBBBYYYY!!! I’m gonna….
My fists held high, I tried to catch him but he was too elusive. My heart sank and I honestly cried when I saw the fringes of thread my cat clawed out from my brand-new couch.
Episodes like this are not frequent but when they do happen they just make you want to pull your hair out and scream. But no matter how much trouble they cause, the joy and love they bring to my life make up for all of it.
Growing up in the Philippines, I never had any pets and actually was fearful of animals. Dogs and cats roamed the streets and were everywhere. So immigrating here to the States, I could never understand how people can spend so much money on their pets and sometimes treat them better than human beings…until I had my own.
I love Flash and Kirby very much. Not only are they very cute but they constantly remind me of something deeper. I remember I was playing with Flash, throwing one of his favorite toys, named Denver (he was a green stuffed dinosaur). He ran after him and then came back wagging his tail, smiling, with Denver all jacked up in his mouth. He was so innocent-looking and loyal. I had this feeling of being accepted fully, being loved fully. I was instantly reminded of God’s love and faithfulness. In that moment, God was able to give me the grace to feel his presence and to admire the beauty of his creation through my interaction with Flash. That experience unexpectedly brought tears to my eyes.
The words of St. Alphonsus de Liguori comes to my mind
“For me God has created these lovely things in this world, that I may love Him”
St Augustine also says
“The heavens and the earth and all your works cry out to me to love You.”
I truly believe that Flash and Kirby give me so much joy because they are, in essence, fulfilling their purpose here on Earth and that is to help me praise, reverence and love God and this in turn encourages me to love other people. I have to be careful, though… Sometimes I can catch myself feeling more affection towards my pets than towards certain human beings and would sometimes think “I would rather spend time with them than that person…” My human nature can argue that there are just some people who are so difficult to get along with…When this happens and I let my thoughts dictate my actions, hindering me to go out there and serve, my pets are becoming a disordered attachment, a hindrance to my true calling. When we are putting our pets above the dignity of other human beings, we are in need of a heart check. All humans, irregardless of how we feel about them, are made in God’s image and likeness and that gives all of us innate worth. So I guess what I am saying is: that we should celebrate our pets because they are God’s creation and if we view them in the right perspective, as God’s gift and a reminder of his awesomeness, then our natural response would be to love HIM and love our neighbor more.
Just some fun facts about my adorable pets…
FLASH: 2 years old, aka Rivendell Thunder and Lightning/ Mr. Licks-a-lot/Mr. Wigglesworth/ Flashy-poo/ The love of my butt…
Likes: Stealing then eating pizza and cookie dough, playing frisbee, playing with his toys, prancing like a pony, barking at anyone near the door, eating the dead worms as we walk the trails, lots of affection
Dislikes: Thunder, loud menacing noises, runners and cyclists
KIRBY: 4 years old, aka Koibs/Koiby/Couch Wrecker/Mr. Meowser
Likes: His cat tree, sniffing and tasting plants, scratching furniture and carpet, sleeping in Flash’s bed, chin and belly rubs
Dislikes: Too many people, getting kisses from bearded faces, having his teeth brushed, getting his nails clipped.
Traveling The Little Way 