In Praise of Puppies

Joseph Herrin (04-07-2016)

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What is better than puppies in Springtime? Spring is often associated with new life, and my household has recently been blessed with an abundance of it. Girlfriend, acquired this past year as a companion for my dog Champ, had her first litter the night of April 5th.

Girlfriend a Week Before Giving Birth

The Happy Couple

I had been watching Girlfriend closely as she drew nearer to delivering her pups. She stayed very close to her kennel on April 3rd and 4th. On the 5th she would not come out of her dog house. She laid in it and was panting heavily. She had no interest in eating, so I knew her time was close. I checked on her regularly throughout the day. Finally, just before I went to bed at 11 P.M. I peeked in on her and saw that she had delivered one puppy.

Girlfriend With First Pup Under Her Chin

She was still panting, but there was no sign of any other puppies coming forth at the time, so I retired to bed. I awoke around 3 A.M. and went to check on her again. I found her surrounded by a group of puppies. Her “labor” was accomplished and now her “work” would begin. In the morning I was able to take a closer look at all of the puppies and found that she had given birth to nine. She will be kept busy nursing that many pups.

I was surprised to find that she has two puppies which are almost completely white. There are also one or two mostly black puppies, but the majority of them are brown. I am excited to watch them all develop. Girlfriend does not mind me picking up her puppies and handling them, but she is a very attentive mother. She had all the puppies bathed and looking new and shiny for their debut to the world.

Mama and Puppy

Fresh as a New Day

A Handful of Life

I will be getting plenty of oxytocin in upcoming days. That should help my sense of well-being. If you are not familiar with what I am referring to, I would point you to the following article which I posted in 2012 soon after I acquired Champ.

http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/life-with-champ.html

It has been reported that having a dog increases oxytocin levels in the brain, acting as a type of tranquilizer, giving a sense of peace and calmness. I can attest that holding a puppy, or petting a dog, can be a stress reliever. It seems my options have now greatly increased in this regard. If you need to de-stress sometime during the next few months, come on over and hold one of these stress relievers in your hands. Their mama will be glad to let you share her care-taking duties.

I do admit to showering my dogs with attention. I find that doing so is good for me as well as for them. It makes sense that it would be this way since Yahweh made all creatures. In fashioning man in His own image, He placed within the human soul an innate compassion for living things.

Proverbs 12:10
The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.
[NLT]

Jacob was a righteous man and he had regard for the animals in his care.

Genesis 33:13-14
“My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die. Please let my lord pass on before his servant; and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children...”

I look forward to that time when Yahshua establishes His rule upon this Earth. Compassion for all living creatures will be the order of the day, and all will abide together in peace.

Isaiah 11:5-9
Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea.

Every now and then Yahweh gives us a glimpse of how things will be in a kingdom of righteousness where His character is manifested every day. We can see it in the care of a mother dog for her puppies. We can experience it in our own heart as we demonstrate compassion for the creatures Yahweh has made.

May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws    

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com    

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063