The Christmas Angel

While walking into the cleaners today and I found myself holding the door for a man pushing a tiny Chihuahua in a stroller.
Yes, you heard me correctly, a MAN pushing a TINY Chihuahua in a stroller.
Surprised by this odd couple, I knew I needed to hear more about this precious creature who had her daddy wrapped tightly around her little finger.

Her name is "Angel", he said.
"She is very quiet. She never barks or growls.

She loves all people, especially children.
One of her favorite pastimes is waiting for the kids to load off the school bus at the end of the day. She runs with her tail wagging at fast speeds to greet all the children. And the children, well they just love her."

"Angel! Angel! Angel!!" They scream. 

I walk in listening to this man tell me all about his precious bundle of joy and then I see Angel move from her stroller to another gentlemen's (a stranger's) lap. While the rest of the world is busy shopping, buying and preparing for Christmas day, Angel was sitting HERE, living it.

So, I just had to ask, 

"Did you name her or is that the name she came with?" 

Well he said, "She's a rescue. You see before Angel, I had a tiny deer- Chihuahua named Tina who was my 4-legged soul-mate."
"After I retired from the Air Force I moved to Birmingham not knowing that my life would change rather drastically. My wife and I got divorced. Looking for another 4-legged soul mate, I put out a request to a rescue organization describing the type of dog I was looking for."
"I got a call one day about a Chihuahua they were rescuing from a backyard breeder. She was a tiny deer-Chihuahua just as I was looking for and her name was Angel. I don't think it could have been more fitting, as at the time, I needed an Angel!"

I was doing my best to hold back the tears when 2 little girls walked up, also cooing and doting on the tiny little Christmas Angel. Her big doe eyes so gentle inside her tiny little head with her big ears splayed to each side. She just LOVED to LOVE.
I thought of the life she had once known in comparison to her life now.
I wonder if she had ever dreamed of being rescued? I wonder if she had ever thought that one day she might be able to give love to so many different people? I wonder if she had ever dreamed of  a life outside a wire kennel in which she was likely housed 24 hours a day?

These sweet 4-legged furry creatures don't wallow in the past nor wish for the future. They find joy and contentment in each moment. It is us humans who can't seem to let go.
It seems with each generation we move further and further from THIS MOMENT.
We grow less and less content with each situation life gives us.
There is just so much we can learn from these little gentle 4-legged creatures.

But most importantly, I believe they represent the love of Christ, the unconditional love, unfailing love, more than any other being on earth.
They love us without any condition. They do not make judgments or discriminate. They don't choose who receives their love or who they will withhold from. They don't hold grudges or bury resentments in their hearts. Selfishness is nonexistent and offense is not a word in their vocabulary. They forgive quicker than we can apologize. They are concerned more with our heartaches than their own. Each day is a new one with more possibilities than the day before and somehow, someway they are joyful in all situations. They don't hear or receive negative reports nor succumb to self-pity when things don't go their way. They greet every one with a smile and hello.
 

I have heard it said that one of the reasons animals live a fraction of our lifespan  is that they are born with the ability to do something that takes most of us our entire lives to learn,
To LOVE unconditionally.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 has a wonderful description of unconditional love, let's see how they compare?
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Hmmm.... sounds like our animal friends were born with a perfect understanding of love.

So right here on earth, we can get close to the heart of Jesus by learning from His gentle creation that is all around us.  

I know each and every one of my fur-kids was sent to me at the time when we needed each other the most. And each and every one has come with a different life lesson.
Just as Angel swept into Mike's life, they have each swept in at the most perfect timing, God's perfect timing.
Sometimes, while holding them, I can't help but cry as I think back to the horrible situation in which they overcame. It hurts my heart to know what they endured. It hurts my heart to know that most of them were destined to die.
But they found someone who would listen, someone they could teach.
And their life and their lessons carry on every day.
A few lessons I have learned from them:
Life is not based on our past, but
Rather on our future.
It's not where we've been, but
Where we are going that gives us hope.
The more love we give, the more we will receive.
Love is a gift and should be given without conditions.
We must learn to live in THIS MOMENT and in doing so, we can learn to be anxious for nothing.
 

So let's celebrate the true reason for the season, Jesus Christ.
Rejoice.
Give thanks.
Forgive.
Love.
And if you haven't already, ask Him to help you understand the lessons your "angels" were sent to teach you.
There is no doubt, you will be amazed.