Is Your Tail Wagging or Just Dragging?

Sunsets inspire me. Beautiful mountain vistas overwhelm me. A quiet moment next to a trout stream steadies me and a good mandolin break in a driving bluegrass song fires my engines. Different things touch us each day in different ways. Let me tell you the story of Jill since I live to tell stories.

About five years ago, our son Jay was working his way through school to be a veterinarian as a vet tech. Day after day he would come home with cool stories, but the story of Jill was special. Jill was a stray in bad shape. She was brought in by a nice lady who found her nearly dead. She had a huge cut in her stomach, infection; she was malnourished and her back burned where someone had poured hot motor oil down her spine to get rid of fleas and ticks (old time remedy that does nothing but hurt the dog). With the hand of the Lord and the hand of some great vets, she went into surgery.
My son came home that night describing this small, weak Jack Russell Terrier and how sweet that she was. He said everything that they did to her; she would just keep wagging her tail. Her brown eyes constantly said thank you. Even when they caused pain with a needed shot, she just wagged her tail.

So, the next day, I just had to see this little dog. I already liked the breed because we had a male Jack Russell. Back in the clinic area, one of the doctors handed Jill to me. She was all decked out with her plastic collar that looked like a lamp shade. She looked deep into my eyes with those brown eyes, licked me on the chin and I could feel her tail going ninety miles an hour. With her stomach stitched up from one end to the other, her back burned and an IV in her leg, she was just happy. The doctors were worried about her during the night, so I told them to let Jay bring her home and we would sit up with her.

When Jay came in with Jill, Pam and I agreed that we didn’t need another dog and that we would not get attached. Jay, with a stroke of brilliant thinking (comes from his father), put little Jill, collar and all in Pam’s lap. In about ten minutes she called for us both. We figured it was to take to pup and be reminded again to not get attached. Jay’s mother looked him straight in the face and said, “I want this pup, make it happen”. With Jill’s tail wagging, I really think that she understood each word. That was five years ago and she is still here. Heck, I’d get the boot before she would. Each time we come home Jill is so happy. Her tail goes all the time. She seems to say thank you each time you hold her. We are the blessed ones and we try to say thank you to Jill. When I get down or frustrated, Jill will show up, give me a lick and remind me of the power of a grateful spirit.

We all have so much to be thankful for this year. I want to encourage you to get your tail wagging. Now, I mean that figuratively, because I know many of you and it could be downright dangerous if you really got your tail moving that fast!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and remember that all things good come from the Father above!!

Jill’s buddy,
Joey
PS: let me hear a comment from you