A Lesson From Max. . . .

I was watching Max our very old, arthritic, and blind Yorkie this morning when a battle burst through the quiet. Max is sometimes very loving, other times very grouchy. When another dog bumped into him there was no question of fight or flight - Max chose fight.  He reared up on his back legs, growled, snapped at his tormentor, twisted, turned and made his displeasure known.

I reached down gently lifting him up and away from the fray. As soon as Max recognized my touch he settled down. I spoke to him quietly, gave him a few gentle pets and a hug and he sank into my arms and sighed. Nikki, the other dog involved, looked at me and a kind word and gentle ear scratch reassured her that she was still loved. Off she went to play with another dog.

That's when it hit me, the lesson finally clicked. Max is old, sometimes he hurts physically. He lives in a dark world, blind, no visual cues, alone in his darkness. Voices and touch are his clues to what's going on around him. Max calms when he hears my voice or feels my touch. He immediately understands he's safe. There is no question in his mind, he relaxes knowing instinctively that he is loved. A kind touch reaches his soul to let him know someone cares about him. Max gets that who and what he is, is enough.

And it occurs to me that the next time someone snaps at me, the next time they rear up and growl, I hope I'll remember the lesson Max taught today - a kind word, a gentle voice, a soft touch may be exactly what they need.

We can't always know or even see others pain. We don't know their private battles, secret fears, or blind spots. Max reminded me today that often what is needed is a little kindness. For that moment, that instant, it' enough.