Contributed By Heidi Kistler
Buddy, my friend’s three year old dog, died last week from complications resulting from a car accident. My friend had adopted Buddy after she found him abandoned in a garbage dumpster. Initially, her family was not thrilled with this new addition to the household, especially not the ten-year old grumpy, golden retriever named Sam.
Nevertheless, neither growl nor displays of dominance deterred Buddy. He seemed to be happy just to be alive, and spent the next two and a half years being playful and spreading his joy among his new family and anyone who crossed his path.
When someone in the family was sick, Buddy would bring quiet comfort and healing as he lay by the bed. When there was trouble in the house, Buddy would hang around offering his enthusiastic support. He never tired of trying to cheer up and endear himself to old grumpy Sam.
But Sam continued to dismiss the younger dog in his condescending, nippy way until Buddy came home from the vet after his car accident. Sam suddenly took an interest in Buddy whose inactivity and deliberate movements were painful to watch. He would approach Buddy, sniff, observe and wait while Buddy remained inert.
After a week, Buddy died. His cycle was complete. “If the purpose of a tree is to grant us shelter, Buddy’s purpose was simply love,” my friend said, a few days later. Moreover, Buddy’s gentleness, affection and playfulness rubbed off on the household.”While Sam became a nicer dog, the rest of us in the family became more aware of Buddy’s kind and gentle disposition and we responded to that,” my friend explained.
Buddy’s brief life also taught her about the ebb and flow of life’s energy. All we can do about it is to make the most of what we have and let go with grace when the time comes. Every life has its season and its gifts. Buddha come in all forms, shapes and sizes, my friend reminded me. They simply are themselves and by observing them with openness, we learn, recognize their gifts and accept the riches of the moment.
Have you learned a life lesson from an unexpected or unlikely teacher?
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Great story, Heidi. I would have loved to have met Buddy. I’m grateful to pause and remember the many ‘Buddys’ I have encountered in my life to date. Dogs just seem to have this way of going directly to a human’s heart and burrowing their way in. All the way in, to the depths!
Aki, the Humane Society ‘mutt’ we adopted as a puppy, turned 15 in March. I hope I’ll be able to “let go with grace when her time comes.” Regardless of the amount of grace, there will be many, many tears.
Love in its purest form(s) simply undoes us, and I believe that’s one of the best possible gifts life has to offer. : )