When my daughter Megan was in grade five she submitted a report to her teacher titled, “Why I Want a Dog and My Parents Won’t Let Me have One”
The teacher asked her to bring it home so we could read it and sign it, which we did. That Megan wanted a dog wasn’t news to us, but we certainly didn’t know she wrote a paper on the subject.
So finally we had a discussion about it and came up with a few guidelines before we would make any decision.
The dog couldn’t shed, bark and must be a lap dog. These were our “demands” thinking this would be near impossible to meet.
But Megan went to work doing her research and eventually found a local farm that was offering Bichon/poodle pups. So off we went to see the 8-week old puppies.
The kids were out of the car before it was in park and looked around with great excitement and soon five or six puppies came bounding across the field toward us. At that moment I knew we were getting a puppy.
Since it was Megan’s idea, she made her selection and a few weeks later Abby was part of our family.
On our drive home I quietly leaned to Kathy and said, you know we are going to have to say goodbye to this dog someday. What I was saying, was that I knew that someday saying goodbye to this dog was going to be painful. If you’ve lost a pet, you know what I’m talking about.
She looked at me with agreement, but that was for another day.
The truth is, Abby was a wonderful dog. She rarely barked (unless I chased her around the house), she didn’t shed and she stayed close to us all the time, often sitting with me on my armchair.
My prediction came true thirteen years later, when after a sudden illness, we had to put Abby down and I cried as much as Megan and the rest of the family. I probably spent more time with her than anyone else, since I worked from home a lot and I loved her.
My point is this…if you want to experience joy in your life, you will likely meet pain as well. But the potential of pain should not prevent you from choosing joy.
Think about it. Many of our most meaningful aspects of life include a measure of pain, as well.
For example…
I work out 5-mornings a week and it includes pain. The last few reps to failure can be brutal…but I feel so good after pushing myself.
Kathy and I would say our marriage is better than ever, but it hasn’t been without pain. That might be mostly my fault, but the reality is, almost any meaningful relationship will face its challenges.
Megan just gave birth to our second grandchild two weeks ago. With much pain comes great joy.
I’m watching some older people in my life face physical challenges and someday sooner or later, I will have to say goodbye to them, for the last time. But our relationships has been well worth the pain and grief of goodbye.
We can experience physical pain, emotional pain, mental pain and so on.
But the fact remains that the joy that life can bring, makes the pain worth it.
And consider this…what will you miss out on if you choose to avoid pain?
I’m NOT suggesting you endure abusive behaviour or take unnecessary risks in your life.
But choose to live! Even if it means pain might be your companion at times.
Q. What do you want to do with your life but have been afraid to pursue, because of the potential for pain?
I say pain is part of life and shouldn’t prevent you from pursuing the things you truly want.
It paid off for Megan. We have no regrets for bringing Abby into our family. She brought love and joy into our lives and the pain of saying goodbye will never erase that.
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