6 Ideas You Can Steal from Your Dog

Many of you know I am a proud pet-parent to my best four-legged pal, Samson. (Sorry, I couldn't help including our holiday Christmas card photo in the graphic....) He is a brilliant yellow lab who fills my day with tail wags and nose kisses and he has taught me so much about life. That cliche "I want to be the person my dog things I am" quote that is absolutely everywhere-YES, it's the topic of today's discussion. In the 2.5 years I have raised Samson, I have pinpointed 6 key ideas that humans should steal from their dog.

6 Ideas You Can Steal from Your Dog

1. Greet each day with a tail wag. Each morning is a beautiful creation waiting to take  shape. Seize each day and it's opportunities with gr attitude and grace. I have never known Samson not to great me every morning (and every night after work) with a tail wag. "And Jesus said unto him, 



• Jesus said, No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day. (Luke 9:62 MSG)



2. Enjoy every meal (or treat). My little man thinks that EVERY meal is going to be his last. There is no questions that he is thankful for his food, he doesn't even leave a piece of kibble. Should I mention what happens if a Greenie Treat or a FrostyPaw is involved?! In the world where there is such a push for fad diets and other "quick" weight loss schemes, remember that eating the RIGHT foods in the RIGHT portions is what will help you achieve a HEALTHY lifestyle. 

• So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV)

3. Exercise your paws and be joyful about it. My favorite activity with Samson involves taking him to the park. Every evening he and I go to the park to throw a tennis ball down the hills of one of the nearby parks in my neighborhood. I don't think I've ever seen a dog more joyful to be out in the open and stretching his legs. I know personally, I wish I could attack my daily runs with his same level of fitness enthusiasm. 

• She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. (Proverbs 31:17)

4. Love others more than yourself. My little buddy has this one under control. There is no doubt when you look in his brown little eyes that I'm the most important thing to him in the world (except maybe a FrostyPaw treat). His love is unconditional. This is an area where I think all people struggle at one point or another. I'm sure everyone can look back over the past week, heck the past day, and find a time when they should have put another person's interests ahead of their own. 

• Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

5. Every dream is attainable. I can't tell you all how many times I have watched my little buddy growth, twitch, and run in his sleep. He dreams with determination, even though not all of them are attainable. Attack every dream like it is something that can be achieved, you never know what will become of the effort. In the interest of corny quotes, shoot for the moon, because if you miss you'll still have a place among the stars. 

• But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. (2 Chronicles 15:7)

6. Protect the ones you love. Samson brings a level of security to my life that has been unmatched previously. I know that he would go though great lengths to alert me to danger and protect me. It is important to realize that the ones we love are WORTH protecting. Loved ones are precious gifts that need to be fostered and developed in order to grow and be protected in order not to be torn apart. 

• Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. (Psalm 138:7)

Even though Samson is a 4 legged pal and not a person (negotiable), it is safe to say that I have learned a great deal about life though raising him. Although it is cliche, I truly hope that I am the person Samson thinks that I am. I hope he sees me greet each day with a smile, give thanks before every meal, exercise to remain HEALTHY not skinny, lay myself down for the sake of others, and chasing my dreams. My charge is to evaluate how you approach day to day life. As the New Year approaches, I hope that you find yourself to truly be the person your dog thinks you are!