Man’s Best Friend

I have been observing our two corgis for quite some time now and every day I’m realizing they’re so much smarter and more human than I imagined. As I pondered more, I’m thinking, they’ve always been smart. I just never noticed, appreciated or took advantage of this.

When I was a young kid (back in the Philippines), we treated our dogs like … dogs! Our dogs only ate left-over food which usually was hardly enough. Our dogs were always skin and bones. Often they were disheveled and were infested with fleas. Going to a veterinarian was unheard of. If our dogs got sick, that would be the end for them. Despite our maltreatment, they were super loyal. They would always be so happy to see us when we arrived and would sheepishly ask to be petted. They would only impose for more attention when we petted them longer than usual. Yeah, we were not great masters. We missed out on a beautiful friendship/partnership with these creatures. I’m not proud of it. But that was the norm in our society then. It was our loss.

Why did God create dogs in the first place? According to Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth to prepare a place for man (his favorite creation). He created animals to give man his first job which was to give them a name. God could have given Adam a catalogue of His creation but no … God granted Adam the fun of discovering, analyzing and categorizing each creature. Imagine this playful scene of Adam naming the animals:

God: “Okay Adam, I just created some animals with 4 legs. What do you call that big one?

Adam: “I’ll call him elephant! Because it says ‘Ele-phhhaaannt’ whenever it talks.”

God: “That’s funny. And how about this galloping one — with the long hair that soaks up the wind?”

Adam: “That’s easy. He’s a horse!”

God: “Of course! Of course! How about this one? It looks like a horse but its neck is so much longer?”

Adam: “Gee! It must be rough to walk around with a neck like that. That’s a “Gee-rough!”

God: (Laughing) “That’s pretty clever, Adam.

Adam: “Lord, can I request a special one? I want one that will be super loyal, will always know I’m the boss, will protect me, will play with me, will make me feel better by just looking at him … he should be small enough to bring wherever I go. He should never be jealous or threatened and will love me forever and ever.”

God: “Sure. I can do that. What shall you call him?”

Adam: “How ‘bout Doug?”

God: Why not just call him DOG … it’s my name spelled backwards. He will remind you of me because I too love you unconditionally!

Adam smiled and God created dog. And the rest is history … well at least that’s my story.

I believe God made dogs to teach us kindness, loyalty, and all those amazing qualities … to mirror God’s unconditional love for us so that we may pass the same to our fellow man.

And don’t be like me in my younger years. Don’t pass up an opportunity to develop a beautiful friendship.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” — Marilyn Monroe

“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.” — Agnes Turnbull

“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, ‘Wow, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!’” — Dave Barry

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” — M.K.Clinton

“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog. It merely expands the heart.” — Author Unknown

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Ed of Studio City, CA

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Sharon of Connecticut

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

SUBSCRIBE

The post The Wailing Wall appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Twitterpated

WARNING: Just my opinion. Move on to the jokes if you’re not interested.

I enjoy watching my grandsons grow up.

Yesterday on our way to basketball practice, we passed by two teens exchanging (what appeared to be) their first kiss on the steps of a fenced community. “What was that?!” I exclaimed. “I don’t know,” my grandson giggled and both their eyes grew wide and shocked. But, as soon as we turned the corner, they were back to their basketball conversation like nothing had happened … such innocent kids!

During my preteen years, I didn’t know what girls were like. Sure I had sisters and cousins but they didn’t count — they weren’t real girls. Growing up in an all-boy Catholic school, my batch mates were clueless about these “heavenly creatures.” What do they eat? What do they talk about? How do you start a conversation? What do they smell like? Are they soft like a Teddy Bear? I was fascinated by almost every girl I met. If any girl would talk to me, I would fall in love.

I asked my grandsons if they had any lady friends and they said NO! — almost like saying “why would you even ask a dumb question like that?” Think about this — these boys go to school with girls everyday but they never speak to them unless they are required to. It’s exactly like the scene in Bambi where the boy animals get “twitterpated” by the more mature damsels who lay traps with their alluring glances and seductive poses.

Men, do you remember those years? Wasn’t life so wonderfully exciting? Where did all the chivalry go? I think when we lost our innocence, we started to objectify our women. Not good!

Women, instead of competing with you, would you rather that your man love you, be delicate with your hearts and treat you like the weaker vessels (physically) that you really are?

So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.” — Genesis 2: 21-23

There is so much talk today about gender rights, equality and respect. Let’s get this straight: Men and women are different but we are equal in God’s eyes and we were made to complement and not compete with each other. It’s important to understand our roles. God is a God of order and this is His beautiful plan. Let’s not mess it up. We still have so much to learn from each other, don’t we?

But this is just me. And I’m preaching to myself.

TGIF people!

Raoul

“Those who have never known the deep intimacy and the intense companionship of mutual love have missed the best thing that life has to give.” – Bertrand Russell

“He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.” – Madeline Miller

“Intimacy is the capacity to be rather weird with someone – and finding that that’s ok with them.” – Alain de Botton

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

Thanks to Bob of Placentia, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Nani of San Juan, Philippines

Thanks to Drake of Washington, DC

Thanks to Mike of New York

I found these:

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with this.

SUBSCRIBE

The post Spartacus, A Lion is Eating Your Wife! appeared first on Traveling Archive.