Loving Into Wholeness
January 16, 2007 · by Christine
It has been just over a week now since Tune has come into our life. If you had told me ten days ago that I would now be completely smitten with a nearly ten-year-old dog I would have been very surprised. These are the things that can happen when you allow the Spirit to lead and open your heart to hidden treasure. It feels especially significant to me that we first met her on the feast of Epiphany for she has been a great gift. We were going to wait until after our big trip this summer to adopt a new dog, then we found Tune and were going to take her in temporarily, but now I can’t imagine anyone else getting the privilege of nurturing her during these winter days of her life.
Cathleen from Back Road Journey wrote a comment on my post last week about the Winter God that has really been stirring within me the last few days as I am present to the wonder of this new creature and the love she so freely offers. Cathleen wrote: “Perhaps this is the season to consider what needs “fostering” in our lives, what part of our hearts and souls have been neglected or abused and now need the tender love and care that you are offering to your foster dog.”
Tune, which I have decided is short for Petunia, is just a sweet little love of a dog. She wants nothing more than to be in our presence, preferably draped across our laps. It breaks my heart when I think of the life she has spent without much personal attention, essentially used for what her body can offer as a breeder. Then when she was too old to perform her function anymore, she was tossed aside. She is very nervous and shy in new situations, but once she starts to trust, she becomes a playful, loving, and devoted companion. She may live for a year or another five, but my deepest hope for her is that she can soak in all the love she can. Perhaps we can help love her out of her fears and back into wholeness. Those of you who have been reading here for a while know that I freely submit myself to the wisdom of other creatures and so have also been referring to her as Abbess Petunia. Our Abbey needs an Abbess after all, and Tune models a life of rest, play, loving, and gratitude that is a great reminder for my sabbatical time.
It makes me think of the ways I have been loved into wholeness in my own life. Meeting my husband over 14 years ago and being loved by him so completely and unconditionally went miles to help me heal from the messages of my alcoholic father. I am able to become more fully myself in his loving gaze and I hope my love offers the same in return.
To be cherished in this life is a gift beyond measure and one I would wish for every single living creature. To love others in such a way that they know they are already whole and beautiful is a sacred thing, perhaps the only really important thing we do in this life.
So back to Cathleen’s comment, as we nurture Tune with love and remind her of what a dog’s life should be, I am also aware of those places of my own life that have gone neglected for too long and need some loving attention again. Tune is calling me into a most tender love for her, and in the process I myself am becoming more whole as well.
What in your life needs to be fostered again? Where do you need reminding of your incredible, beautiful wholeness?
-Christine Valters Paintner
Posted in Spirituality |
January 16th, 2007 at 7:20 am
What beautiful thoughts! I think dogs are specially created to love us into wholeless. I am blessed with Chryssie (almost twenty) and Sophie (three) who both sleep with us (yes, I know they probably belong in their own bed but neither of us can give up the joy of a fuzzy being next to you.
I, too, have been loved unconditionally by a gentle, accepting man (married now for thirty-three years). It has helped to heal by own alcoholic/abusive father messages. It’s pure grace to get this second chance at life.
Thanks, Christine. I am feeling very grateful for my life.
January 16th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Thanks Susan! Wow 20, that is quite old for a dog, what kind is she? And Tune slept in her own bed for the first five days and now is firmly ensconced in ours. Life is too short not to enjoy as much snuggling as possible!
January 16th, 2007 at 9:32 am
She is a minature poodle. Such a funny old thing! She is totally deaf and has cataracts but she does well. Can go up and down the stairs and her “smeller” is working well…because of this dog finding chocolate in women’s purses and other unsuspected places, we have had a close friendship with poison control! She is alpha dog…has one tooth and scares the “little dog” who is about an inch taller and a Maltese.
I am so glad you are spending lots of snuggle time with Tune! What a sweetheart! We are at about one degree F outside…I need those snuggles to keep warm! How is Seattle?
January 24th, 2007 at 4:10 am
Petunia! Its a perfect full name for Tune. Sometimes I call my daughter “Petunia”. These pictures of her really show her sweetness and the bliss she finds in you. I adore the way she is pushing her head into that green pillow and the way she covers her nose with her paw in the last photo. I’m glad you can cherish each other! Definitely each others’ Epiphany. And Cathleen’s insight is “in Tune”.
January 24th, 2007 at 4:11 am
How adorable Susan! It is ANOTHER SNOW DAY here in Seattle! This is my husband’s fifth canceled day of teaching since late November (plus one late start day). Such strange weather, it is lovely to look at though and in a bit we are going to go play in the park.
Thanks Bette, such a delightful and unexpected gift she is, and she does end up in some of the funniest poses.
Blessings! Christine
January 24th, 2007 at 4:12 am
What a wonderful image coming through your words and the pictures of your new pup. I don’t know of another way to wholeness other than love. We have a foster daughter whose life was much like Tune’s who didn’t believe anyone meant it when they said “I love you” when she first came to be a part of our family. We have watched her grow in love and become more whole and more loving, moving along the journey we are all making.
Peace,
Milton
January 24th, 2007 at 4:12 am
Thanks Milton. Very true, I don’t think there is any other path. What a beautiful story about your daughter. Imagine the healing she might otherwise never have experienced. Blessings to you, Christine
January 24th, 2007 at 4:13 am
I just loved that second image! What a sweetie : )
January 24th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Thanks Wendy, she is a total sweetheart. And we are officially adopting her!
January 24th, 2007 at 4:14 am
Hooray! How wonderful for all of you.
“Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.” I don’t remember who said that, but my husband and I have certainly found it to be true. When we brought Amie home from the shelter two years ago, our vet thought she was at least ten years old, but wouldn’t guess past that. She may be about twelve to fifteen. I am sure you will have the same satisfaction we’ve had with Amie, as you watch Tune grow healthier and happier and know that you are as much of a blessing to her in her “golden years” as she is to you. I’m so glad you found one another.
January 24th, 2007 at 4:14 am
Christine,
Seeing others as already whole and loving them as such. Hmmm, seems like that is our best way to emulate God and show forth the Divine in the darkness of this world. Great thought for me to take into my day today. Thank you!
January 24th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Your photos show us how quickly you offered love and trust and how quickly Tune’s dog heart knew to receive your gifts!! How blessed you all are. Once again, your words about love as the way to wholeness and healing are timely. And I will snuggle all the more with our dog and 2 kitties to foster needed self-care here in the cold mid-west. Warm and loving wishes to each of you!
January 24th, 2007 at 4:16 am
Zorra, what a great saying! Thanks for sharing your experience with Amie. No matter how long we have Tune, we are blessed by this time with her.
So glad the image spoke to you Cheryl!
Thank you Cathleen, we are indeed richly blessed.
January 24th, 2007 at 4:16 am
I am so glad that Tune is going to stay with you! She looks peaceful and content…to take her out of that into another unknown would be sad. We adopted both our children, our daughter was 2 when she left her foster home to come live with us. It was heartwrenching to see her grieve…yet again…for another loss in her short life, first from her birth mom and then from her foster mom.
How wonderful that Tune can stay settled and enjoy her new home and ‘parents’!
Ruth
February 1st, 2007 at 8:05 am
Thanks Ruth! Blessings to you!
February 8th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
[…] since Tune (or Petunia as I often call her) arrived in our life, she has become the new Abbess of our Abbey, […]
June 11th, 2007 at 1:21 am
[…] worked her way deep into my heart. If you missed the story of our rescue of Abbess Petunia, read here and here and here. I will miss her a great deal while we are […]
December 29th, 2007 at 2:06 am
Oh, Christine…
How I needed to connect to - and be reminded of the love, gentle compassion and healing energy of self-care, grace and wholeness:) Your Tune reminds me of my Rhoda, my loving, sweet, gentle Rhodesian Ridgeback Doggie angel who is right here with me… Rhoda was thrown away to the streets, no one wanted her as she has hip “problems” and I am now blessed that she found her way to me. The first night I brought her home (to foster, of course! -she calmly walked past my other 2 dogs and climbed on the sofa and went to sleep… She was home… Your Tune’s energy is much like Rhoda’s… Rhoda sleeps w/me (when I can talk her into it:) and she, like Tune, becomes a small (well, 70 lbs small ball of Love!) and snuggles next to me - always needing to touch:)
I have found so much of what I needed here tonight, and I am so grateful… Your post and the replies have touched my heart ~ and Tune has touched my soul! Love is so healing, isn’t it?
Now I will be still and take some quiet time to reflect on what my doggie angels are mirroring to me, so I can go deeper…
I needed the love and care here! Blessings and Gratitude! And a doggie hug to Miss. Tune:)
Danita
March 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Healer within…. your words remind me of my beloved ridgeback who is no longer with me. During a really terrible time in my life he too was my confidante and found his home on the bed at night!! As human we do not realise the blessings we are given in the form of our animals…. past and present.