#17: Man's Best Friend

Number 17 on my list of manifestations of God's love is my dog. 

Brooklyn and I on Halloween of 2009

I have the BEST pooch in the world.  When I was young, I was terrified of dogs.  I would hear the jingle of a collar and instantly be petrified.  I didn't know how I was going to get over my fear. 

When I was about seven, my neighbor gave me the idea to GET a dog.  She said it would help me overcome my fear if I had a dog of my own.  GENIUS.  Buy something I was absolutely afraid of??  No way.

But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to have a dog.  Begging and pleading, I tried to convince my mother to get a dog.  She said "maybe someday."  I took that as a "no." 

In the fall of 2004, my mom began to feel prompted that our family needed a dog.  She didn't understand why, but she followed that prompting.  Right before Christmas, our family got a dog.  I named him Brooklyn.  Girly, right?  I know... in my defense, I was only 14!  But it fits him. 

He quickly became my best friend.  In high school, I loved waking up early in the summer and taking him outside on short walks.  In college I loved to come home from school to a quiet house and take a nap on the couch, with him on my lap. 

Since I've been in college, Brooklyn has faced some challenges.  Some of these include depression, anxiety, chasing a porcupine, being sprayed by a skunk (twice), and having a bizarre neck surgery.  You can imagine I was very nervous about leaving him to serve a mission.  But I knew he was in good hands and that Heavenly Father would take care of him.



Brooklyn-age 5



About a month ago, I received an email from my mom.  Brooklyn had diabetes.  I was stressed about it, but too busy to really let it sink in.  Then, last Monday I got another email from my mom.  Brooklyn was incredibly sick.  He's lost a lot of weight and is up frequently during the night.  Though my parents are watching and caring for him closely, it still makes me sad that I am not there to hold and comfort my little dog.  I pray that he will start to feel better.  If you read this-maybe you could pray for my little dog too? 

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father prompted my mom to get me a dog.  She told me once, "I knew that I needed to get you a dog.  Something told me, 'She'll need this'." 

I am grateful to a mother that can follow spiritual promptings.