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During our recent Shareathon, there was a torrential storm threat to Southeast Louisiana and I figured I would get some outside time before we all hunkered down! The start of this years’ Shareathon was a little rough for me personally and I find walking outside very therapeutic. Little did I know that on this particular Saturday, at this particular time, God would give me the sweetest opportunity of encouragement and bless me with a new friend!
I want to tell you, I don’t even have a dog , but for some reason I stopped in the dog park that day just to watch all the little puppies play together. I often like to people watch too. I noticed a couple right outside the gate as I was walking in. They seemed to be a husband and wife in a sweet embrace right by the rainbow bridge of the dog park. I thought to myself that maybe they had just lost a beloved pet.
I noticed this teen and her little sister come in with their little brown dog just walking the path. The 2 of them chasing their dog and petting others along the way. For me, sitting on a bench soaking up the sun watching the puppies play together is such a tremendous joy . Dogs love it too, you can almost tell when a dog is smiling. One thing that I’ve noticed in observing the dogs at the dog park, they genuinely just live and lap up the moments; saying hello to strangers, humans included , tails wagging and jumping, then just going about their own business.
I observed an exchange between a strange lady and the girls. Not sure what she said, but it seemed as if she was dishing out some sort of correction, and I watched that smile disappear from the teen and her little sister’s face. Not once did the young girl say anything, she just stood and listened. In that moment my joy switched off as that woman walked by me with her dog. I didn’t even hear what she was saying, mumbling to herself, because I was looking beyond her watching the girls leave. They both looked so disappointed.
I decided to leave the park at that moment and walking out the gate, there was the older girl embracing that same woman I saw sitting with her husband as I walked in. I connected the dot – that was her mom, who upon closer inspection appeared very ill. The dad had taken the little sister back into the park with the pup. For whatever reason, I felt led to introduce myself and compliment this girl on how gracious she was to that grumpy lady. Her mom didn’t speak, but I could see she was so proud to hear about her girl. As her Dad walked up I’m sure he was taken aback by this strange woman talking. I told him my observations and he smiled sooo big.
Then, the encouragement came for me, Miley let me pray for her family.
Proverbs 11:25
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Miley, oh how I wish that lady saw your heart, your dad’s heart and the fact that you guys were just enjoying a pretty day at the park with your sick mom. Living in the moment, embracing each other and just going about your day saying hello to strangers! Funny, that’s exactly how my interaction started at the dog park except it ended with humans! Miley, thank you for being so kind to me. Your gentle spirit will get you far in life. Thank you for showing that old lady grace and patience at the ripe old age of 15. You showed far more wisdom than she did, even though she has decades of experience on you! Hope to see you at the park again soon and I’ll bring the treats, for your pup and for us!
Little did I know I would make a new friend that day. A friend that challenged me to think that sometimes when you only look on the surface of a person that’s all you get and you miss out! I wanted to meet that girl who showed kindness and patience when it wasn’t being shown to her. I’m so glad I did. I’m so grateful to her for talking to me, a stranger, and letting me into her life.
1st Samuel 16:7
“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”