I have an old yellow Lab that has been in my life since he was 7 weeks old. He is now 12 years old and in the sunset of his life. Each day I am amazed when I see Tanner lift his head, thump his tail, and struggle to stand up to go outside. Every morning, I find myself preparing for him to be unable to rise, or worse yet, dead, when I come down the hallway to get him.
Tanner is going deaf (now for real, not just selectively), has a body full of tumors bulging out all over him and his legs are arthritic and wobbly. Nonetheless, the old dog manages to greet each morning with all the zest and zeal he can muster up in his condition. He is always a happy dog.
Tanner, like all dogs, lives in the moment, neither looking back to his younger days running in the fields nor looking out into the future of his final days. He greets each and every day ready to live in the moment. His thumping, wagging tail shows his enthusiasm as he greets each day.
Tanner's days are now numbered and I struggle when I look into his big brown eyes and imagine life without him tagging alongside me. May I learn to view my days in the moment, neither looking behind or too far ahead. May I learn from Tanner to enjoy each and every moment that I encounter.
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