The Sojourner

My childhood dog, Scout, passed away just a few weeks ago. He was sixteen years old–so ancient in dog years, but that didn’t make our goodbye any easier. I wrote this the morning he passed and thought I’d share.

All Dogs Go to Heaven

The saying goes that a dog is a man’s best friend—I’m not sure I agree with that.

A dog is not bound by the titles we give or the role’s we assign.

To me, a dog is a soul companion—teaching lessons that man fails to give.

Unlike man, a dog doesn’t measure us by our strength, success, or sense of purpose

Instead, they measure us merely by the love we give.

Man prides us on the loudness and confidence of our speech

A dog treasures the softness of our voice

Unlike man, loyalty is not earned, but given

Through early morning walks,

Paw prints on glass sliding doors,

Silent company on the loneliest nights.

A dog doesn’t demand that we be more than what we are—

only that we love.

I wonder if God created these furry, wet nosed animals

As a reminder of the kind of love we often forget to give.

Unconditional.

Unwavering.

Unspoken.