Story_2

Simple Abundance
By
K9WebWorldNabu

The afternoon sun glows warmly on the polished surface of the end table, giving back the warmth of the afternoon. It fills the room with a certain calm and peace. There have been times in my life when I failed to stop and see the beauty of the world around me. There have been times when I failed to see beyond the next impossible task before me . . . and I was the one rushing past life, not life rushing past me. I was ignoring life�s simple abundance.
In the past �fifty� years I have learned that there are two great gifts we are given and choose to ignore. I call one of them �divine inspiration� � this is the gift of creating � those few minutes I take to write a short story, paint a picture � or train an animal.
Yes, I consider training an animal divine. There are so many sayings � �the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person,� is one. How many times has the strong solid neck of my horse, captured my tears. Funny, I don�t remember what I was crying about now, but I have never forgotten the feel of his neck under my tear stained cheek.
How many times have I held my dog close and murmured heartbreak into his ear? I don�t remember the heartbreak, but I remember how wonderfully soft the tongue was that wiped my tears away, and brought a smile finally to my heart.
How many times has the purring of a cat, calmed my depression, and soothed my heart? I don�t remember what I was �depressed� about, but I remember the love in the soft warm body soothing me with his purr, as we rocked.
It has been these times of �Divine Discontent,� the second gift we are given, that I found the way to my heart and head was with touch. Touching the animals that surround me in life. It is in their hearts, their eyes that I become whole again.
It is when we are most discontented that we can truly see clearly what must be changed in our lives � pour out the anguish in your soul to your pet, they will listen I promise. As the warm body seems to become quiet and take in all your hurt, as the moist tongue wipes away your tears, or the purr comes from deep within to soothe your soul. You will find �your� answers to life, in their love, and in their silent acceptance.
When you find yourself �rushing past life� as most of us do. Can�t find the answers to your most pressing problems, then grab the leash or whatever resources you have, and enjoy your dog, your cat or whatever pets you are blessed with, and take fifteen minutes to change your life.
Don�t have a pet? Your local pound has a dog longing to be walked � you can do your heart and soul some good and his as well, by donating the time to take a dog for a walk.
As the afternoon sun falls behind the trees, life�s abundance smiles upon me as I look into the soft brown eyes of the puppy beside me, in the soft blue eyes of my crossed-eyed Siamese, and I know what is divine in my life . . .