DEAR SOPHIE

LETTERS TO MY SERVICE DOG ... The link to my personal blog, WENDY-LAND, is listed at right.

10 April 2013

I Know You're Tired

Dear Sophie,
You're only two months shy of nine years old.  You've been working now for about seven and a half years.  Your job hasn't been anywhere near as difficult as most working dogs I've known but, for the past few months, you've made it awfully clear you just don't want to do it anymore.  I can't blame you.  Your eyes aren't what they used to be, you've got some arthritis here and there, and you get tired more easily.  Most of us aging folks do, so I understand.
The hunt is on for your successor, and it's not as easy as I thought it'd be.  It may take a while and, in the meantime, I'm going to have to ask you to hang in there with me.  I'll take it easy on you, especially with summertime coming on, and I'll do as much as I can on my own.  You'll be sort-of "semi-retired".  But there'll be times when I really need you with me and I'll ask you to harness up and even boot up when the pavement gets hot.
So bear with me, sweetie.  I'm looking hard for your successor and the Lord will bring us together when the time is right.  You know, having a brother to play with might just go a long way toward making you feel young again.  I'll need you to make him feel welcome, and help assimilate him into our family.  He'll have many things to learn and I'm counting on you to help teach him.  He might get lonesome for his friends he left behind and I'm hoping you'll comfort him.
Please don't ever feel like you're being replaced.  You'll have a place in our family and in our hearts for the rest of your life and ours.  I'll love you every bit as much as ever, and you'll never be obsolete or cast off because you're old.  But you're entitled to your golden years (no pun intended).  You've earned them, and it'll be my privilege to help you enjoy them.  I love you, Sophie, and you'll always be Mama's best girl.