Gentle Friend

For those of you who are close to me,

you know my relationship with Brighty has been

strained

since Wes and I have had children.

But.

As I have taken moments lately to watch this dog with my children.

I must say, he has been a faithful companion in our family.

When Wes and I have been frustrated with him, he has been patient.

He is gentle, in every way.

He lets our children tug, pull, squeeze and rid him.

He welcomes a petting.

I chuckle as I think back to when I was first pregnant with Wyatt and Wes and I read a book on boxers - and how they respond to their owners' babies...

"Boxers will admiringly look up at their owner with the new baby in arms."

That became a phrase I often remembered with each additional child we brought into our home.

Brighty truly is a guard dog. He acts instinctively to this end. In all circumstances.

With each baby we have brought home to our home.

I recall that his guard instincts "heighten" for a few weeks.

It truly is awesome and precious.

How did this furry animal become a part of the family?

I'm not quite sure. But nonetheless, he has.

As much as I've tried to fight his place here, he truly has been a loyal, faithful, kind companion to our household.

I apologize to all of my animal-loving friends. I mean no harm in any way, I am just not that much of a dog person. But I have come to a new place with Brighty.

And I'm thankful that he has remained a very good dog.

Truly. We could not have ever asked for a better animal.

Brighty was Wes' and I's first Christmas gift to one another.

9 years ago.

:)