INSPIRASUNS

Our next-door neighbor is what we call a seasonal resident. He comes down usually in September and then heads back to MA in April or May for the summer. When we moved in about 18 months ago, he was here with his wife who was battling cancer, she had been doing so for quite some time. We also met their very handsome dog, Toby. I would see Toby walking his dad multiple times a day. Eventually, I got to know them better, and Toby would stop and give me some kisses, and then off he’d go back home. You see Toby would immediately go back upstairs and nuzzle into the lap of his mom and there he would stay until time to walk again.

Well, Toby’s mom passed away last summer after that long battle with cancer. Since coming back down this past September, the community has kind of rallied around Toby and his dad. They are both getting stronger and a little more like themselves, but Toby still seems sad and lost, you can tell he misses his mom.

Toby’s dad is a golfer, he does so almost daily. He hurries home after golf each day to spend time with Toby because he doesn’t want him to be so lonely. Well, a few weeks ago, I volunteered to spend time with Toby while his dad plays, and spends some quality time with friends. My husband has a minor dog allergy so having our own furbaby isn’t really an option.

So today I start getting some Toby Time, (that’s what his dad and I have named it) in my day. This is kind of a win-win for everyone, you see I get my puppy fix, Toby spends time with someone and not alone, and his dad gets a little break and time with friends. I know this seems like a little thing, but it really is something we all will look forward to.

I’ve mentioned before in this little blog that there are little things we can do for our friends and neighbors that make a difference. There are ways to help people and not spend a dime. It’s a way to share God’s love in a simple act, just spending time with a beloved dog.

I encourage you to look for ways to help a neighbor or a friend. Even the smallest acts are opportunities to show Father at work in our lives.

Have a great day my friends, oh, and I’ll post some pics of handsome Toby later 🙂 .

Deuteronomy 22:4
You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again.