I have a friend who is an angel on earth.  Her name is Jodee and she takes in senior dogs that no one wants anymore or that people can no longer care for.  She recently shared a story about the newest addition to her brood and it simply broke my heart.

This sweet dog came to Jodee without a name.  She went without a name for 14 years of her life.  I just can’t imagine.  To me, it felt like she never even existed by not having a name.  Jodee named her Tulip and calls her Tulli for short.  She fits her name perfectly.  I look at her picture and see a beautiful blossomed flower still full of lots of life even at the age of 14.

Her story is a sad one.  She was used for the only purpose of breeding, giving no thought and care to her as a creature of God.  When she could no longer be “of use” in breeding, the breeder let her go out into the cold night with absolutely no thought to her well being.  She took off with another younger dog from the same breeding place.  Animal control found the dogs, traced them from their rabies tags back to the owner and called him.  The owner came, took the younger dog and refused to take Tulip.  She was of no use to him.  Just like that.  I, for the life of me cannot understand this one bit, never will understand it.  It is so not right.  How can humans be this cruel?

Tulip was fortunate enough to be placed with Jodee.  She now lives her days in a warm, safe and happy home.  Tulip is full of joy and gives Jodee and her husband endless love.  Amazing, after all she has been through.  The most amazing thing is that you could put Tulip back with the breeder and she would forgive him.  She would still love him after all he put her through.

Dogs are here to teach us invaluable lessons of life… we have to pay attention and wake up to this fact.  Until we do, there will only be more Tulip stories.

What is in a name, is Tulip.  Just as humans, animals deserve to be treated with dignity and grace.  They love us no matter what. We must respect them as divine creatures of God and then these stories of heartache will no longer exist.

Jon Katz is one of my all-time favorite authors.  He writes about his dogs and his life on his farm (Bedlam Farm) in upstate New York.  I have really enjoyed watching him evolve in his spirituality over the last few years.  Recently he began volunteering with his dogs and taking them to hospice homes.  I have learned so much from him in regards to hospice and the dying.  His entry today was so moving and beautiful that I just had to share it.  Be sure to scroll down a bit on the page to get to "Farewell-to-Etta" story. 

URL: http://blog.bedlamfarm.com/index.cfm/2007/12/8/Farewell-to-Etta–the-seed-dies-to-live

I am always fascinated by other writer’s rooms or those that create and where they create.  What does their space look like?  What are they surrounded by?  Came across this link provided by another writer, so thought I would share.  http://books.guardian.co.uk/writersrooms

I LOVE to see and read about how other artists create and to see their little nooks of space is always inspiring to me.  Guess I have read and seen so many, that is why I finally had to have one of my own.  What a difference it has made for me in my psyche.  I can have it quiet, or I can have music playing… whatever I am in the mood for.  No phone, no TV, no noise.  It is paradise.  It is amazing what sitting in silence even if just for five minutes can do for you.  Try it sometime… you will want more and more of it just like I do.  Then maybe you just might have to create a little space of your very own… or perhaps you already have one.  Feel free to share a picture if you do… I’d love to see it!