He Taught US That Love Isn’t Conditional

For years Preston begged that we get a dog–and for years, I said “no.” They drool, they shed, they make things dirty, I said. I didn’t see at all why I needed a furry friend in my life–I felt perfectly content without one. During his most recent deployment, I agreed to start thinking about it–after all, maybe there were some “cleaner ones” we could look at. I die mortified, thinking back on my thought processes then. I guess that’s how this whole life and maturation thing works…

But now, NOW…I’m not sure how I ever lived without a Chewie in my life. So much that I have talks with him about learning how to obtain immortal powers on the reg.

Chewie stormed in our lives with giant teddy bear paws and big ol’ wet kisses and wrecked our world in the best way. He reminds us both, sometimes even embarrassingly, of what love really means.

He’s taught us that love isn’t conditional.

When he places his teddy bear paws on me and cuddles up close immediately after I don’t love him so perfectly, I’m reminded how he shows us love–of how it’s all he even knows. I’m reminded how my existence in his little furry life is the entire world he breathes–and of how some quality time with a tennis ball makes him more happy than I sometimes allow myself to be in a whole week. That’s just cray.  With him, I’m reminded how imperfect our love is as humans, with our faulty conditions, rugged walls, and ugly expectations we place. He makes me better.

They make me better. And we grow together, in this crazy, crazy roller coaster we call life.

And when it’s all said and done, there’s nothing that puppy kisses and furry pouty faces can’t fix. Happy, happy Tuesday my friends!