Welcome back to our fun Dog Days of Summer series, where we embrace the essence of summer and let the paws-itively heartwarming tales of our furry friends brighten your days! As the sun shines high and the warmth fills the air, we embark on yet another delightful journey into the canine world, bringing you the enchanting stories of new four-legged companions that have graced our lives, revealing God to us in unexpected ways.
As the dog days of summer roll on, we find ourselves once again enchanted by the special bond between humans and canines, and all that they can teach us about faith. These loyal companions have an uncanny ability to share happiness, healing, and unconditional love, making even the hottest days feel like a refreshing breeze of joy. Sit, stay, and get ready to take a step in your faith journey alongside wagging tails and wet noses.
Meet Mia & Maisey
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Mia and Maisy may be small but the love they give is enormous! These faithful and quiet girls are the perfect coworkers, adding warmth to even the most difficult day at the home office. When they are not on the clock, they really love hanging in the backyard, looking for bunnies or just lounging on the patio couches. Food is the quickest way to their hearts, and they are sure to make they way into your heart in record time.
Here is what one of their owners, Dave Satterfield had to share about these sweet girls:
The Basics
Breed: They are both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Mia is Ruby (hence her nickname “Little Ruby”) and Maisey is Blenheim colored.
Likes: Their #1 love in life seems to be food. Most mornings they wake me up around 5:30am for their breakfast!
Dislikes: Probably Masiey's biggest disklike would be seeing a suitcase because she knows it means we are going away. She just wants to stay home. Mia is very easy going but she doesn’t like bunnies and other critters invading our backyard, so she is always on guard for that. She recently had a slow speed chase of a turtle all around our yard until the turtle found a way to escape under the fence!
How long have they been a part of your family & how did they join your family?
We adopted Mia and Maisey at different times. We adopted Mia with her bonded companion Mugsy in 2018. Mugsy was several years older and one of the sweetest and most gentle dogs I have ever known. He later passed away in 2021. We adopted Maisey in 2020 so that Mia could have a companion, since she had always had Mugsy as her friend since she was a little pup. Maisey came from a breeder where we don't think she had much socialization or love before joining our family. It took her several months to come out of her shell and trust that we actually wanted to love and not hurt her.
Lessons about God & faith
What has your pup taught you about faith?
They have taught me about the power of love to change a life. We have seen first hand how showing unconditional love and affection can change the life of a dog from one of fear to a life of happiness and joy. It makes me think how much bigger God’s love is than our love. How much more can God’s love change our lives if we accept and embrace it?
How has your dog made you see God differently?
Dogs love so unconditionally and are always so glad to see us whether we have been away on vacation for a week or just gone to the grocery store for a few minutes. They are just a small reflection of how God loves us so unconditionally as well.
Dogs teach us the importance of living in the present moment and finding joy in simple things. How has your dog taught you this lesson in your faith journey?
One of our dog's greatest joys is just hanging in our backyard with us, which has been a real blessing for us as well, especially during the pandemic. Their love of being out in nature has taught us to relax and slow down a bit to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature all around us. Mia and Maisey have a bad habit of waking up early (like around 5:30am). This wakes me up everyday, but I have also come to enjoy the quiet time in the morning to read and prepare for my day.
Dogs have an innate ability to sense our emotions and provide comfort. How can this teach us about God's compassion and empathy towards us?
We say that Maisey is empathic. She seems to be able to sense when someone is not feeling well. When our older dog Mugsy was diagnosed with a tumor, Maisey seemed to know this. She would curl up with him in his bed and follow him around everywhere, always giving him a good sniff when he returned from the vet. She also seems to be able to sense when people are feeling bad. Last year, Maryanne had a tooth extraction and came home with her head all bandaged up. Maisey instinctively curled up with her on the couch and made sure she was snuggled right beside her for hours, something she normally would not have done. Maisey's love and caring reminds me that God loves us so much when we are suffering or sad. He is always there for us.
Dogs demonstrate resilience and the ability to bounce back from difficult circumstances. How can your dog’s resilience inspire us to persevere in our faith, even in the face of challenges?
We adopted Maisey from a breeder where we think she was not treated very well. She was very weary of people at first, hiding in her dog bed on the opposite side of the family room. It took almost a year for her to be brave enough to sit on the couch next to us. Over the course of months and years she has learned that not all people are bad or want to hurt her. She has let down her guard especially with me and the result has been a real second chance at a happy life for her. Knowing how much better her life has become makes me think that we too can have more abundant joy and happiness if we focus on the good and love around us and not problems or troubles we have had in the past.
Oh, Divine Creator, shower us with abundant blessings! Like our loyal dogs, may we embody resilience, bouncing back from life's trials with unwavering determination. Instill within us hearts of compassion and empathy, mirroring the comforting presence of our canine friends to those in need. May we learn from dogs to cherish the present moment, finding joy in the simplest of things, their carefree spirits reminding us to live in the now. Like the boundless love and unwavering loyalty of our furry companions, let us cherish and celebrate the relationships that enrich our lives, forever grateful for the shared journey of love and companionship. Amen.