dog parks and kids

we recently got 2 labs (about 8 months ago now)
HH and I have never had dogs
so we were very clueless to the dog world

Ceasar Milan became my hero:)

then came the day when we had to venture
to the.......

dog park!

that strange sub-culture

as a new dog park groupie I was very uneasy
irritated with my doggies because I didn't understand them
at all

why are the doing what they are doing???
pooing and peeing on my things
on everything
all the time
why?

I had so many questions
I was so lost

and goodness, this was a dog not a kid
it doesn't even talk back to you

anyway, while running around like an idiot
trying to beckon my dogs to my side

who clearly had no interest in listening to me
I realized something

there was so much joy from the other dog owners
they loved their dogs

they enjoyed them
they loved playing with them
they really, really liked them

and I wanted some of that!

just being around these folks
their joy rubbed off on me

I was surrounded by people who love their dogs
and I wanted to love mine too!!!

ok..very simplistic I realize
but it paralleled another aspect of my life

who you surround yourself with
greatly impacts you


surround yourself with people who whine and complain
about their kids
their life
their husband (or wife)

it is irritating to say the least

and so hurtful to those people they are gossiping about

I just can't stand it

surrounding yourself with people who truly enjoy their kids
who truly enjoy their husbands or wives
who honor them with their words and actions


you know who they are

and you know who they are not

the bitter people
the eye rollars
the huffers in disgust
the gossips
the meanies

sure , we can all be like this a one point or another

( and I have been in my life
until God got a hold of my heart)

but it is those who live and breathe
that attitude

never realizing there is a different way
a better way

they are choosing all they know
they continue to choose the same ways
see things the same ways
do things the same
and expect different results

how can they ever see a different way if they are never
shown it
taught it
or heard it?

so, hang out people who love their
life
and who they share it with

not by what they do
but by who they are

in some it is fake
a show
maybe hard to see if it is real or not

but there are those who have true joy
that shines
a peace about them
a spirit of love

true joy is only found in Jesus