The tables have turned since I last blogged on this subject here. Sue and I are not just caregivers to the emotionally or physically ill patients that we counsel or visit; we are now also care-receivers.
In the span of a week, Sue and I have progressed from training our guide dog for the blind, to seeing that dog guide us into a therapeutic relationship. As pictured here, our poodle Candy has crawled onto the hospital bed, fully extending her torso to cuddle, to probe and prod until she could grab the woman's hand, with her paws, as in prayer. What I thought was a unique "God-moment" has repeated itself on subsequent visits.
As part of her training to become a guide dog for the blind, I bring Candy wherever I go. Hence she is becoming quite familiar with and sensitive to other homes, clinics, hospitals, even with hospice. As that elderly cancer patient we first visited a month prior has moved from home to hospital to hospice, Candy has followed. So have the smiles and warm vibes.
In the weeks to come, Candy and the humans on the other end of her leash will accompany our friend on the last earthly leg of her heaven-bent journey of faith and healing. Next, Candy will get acquainted with funeral parlors, and sit expectantly through my end-of-life, welcome-to-heaven message of hope.
This week… Candy and hundreds of other dogs and their humans will get to stretch their legs for a wonderful event this Saturday, May 21, from 11am to 3pm--an event dubbed “Puppies on Parmenter.” Come early to register, bid on some donated silent auction items, and stay through for the party that follows—all at the Capital Brewery. In between, walk your dog, or take a turn with Candy and any of the other pups being raised by OccuPaws. You will enjoy these paws for a cause, as you walk up and down the course of participating shops along Parmenter Street.
I believe God has already set the course of our lives. The prayers of our hearts, hands and feet—plus those of our praying friends and the “prayers” of our four-legged friends—will not change what ultimately happens. But they will change our response. In our particular responses this week and last, we choose Life over death. Faith over fear. And the God we know over the gods of the unknown. Amen and bow-wow