After my husband and I had been married for a year and a half, I was having doggy fever. Yes, I said doggy fever and not baby fever. Unlike most women, my passion and love for babies is minimal compared to my devotion and affection for dogs.
For weeks, I’d been searching local Facebook groups, animal shelters, and talking with potential rescues. Growing up, my family always had dogs, so getting one for my husband and me seemed like a good fit. After a few months, we stumbled across an adorable goldendoodle mix. He was almost 2 years old and had come from a re-homing situation. The only problem? He was significantly larger than we had anticipated.
Quickly, my husband and I went out on a whim and visited him. When we left, we both said, “Wow, that would be a lot of work to get him.” And yet, God began to do a work in us over the next week. After much deliberation, we adopted the 50-pound fluff ball.
From the beginning, the adoption process was rough. Our golden delight was sneaky and had 2 ER visits in one week. We were stressed, confused, and anxious. But today, nearly a year later, I can tell you we’re so blessed. Not only has our dog bonded with us, but he’s made us better. Nothing beats coming home to his goofy character and smiling face when you’ve had an exhausting, overwhelming, and emotionally draining day. He greets us with unconditional love, and like we’re the best thing in the world.
Nearly every day, I thank and praise God for my dog and dogs in general. It might seem silly, but having our now 70-pound ball of fluff has made me realize this: Sometimes, God’s gifts aren’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes, they come in the shape of a dog. And to me and many others, dogs are more than companions; they reflect small, profound truths about how God designed us to live.
Dogs Teach Us the Sacredness of Play
Unlike dogs, most of us have forgotten the sacredness of play. We don’t do it on purpose, but as we grow and assume “adult” responsibilities, we forget how to enjoy life. Thankfully, most dogs haven’t.
Dogs that belong to loving and caring homes play freely, fully, and without guilt. They aren’t consumed with productivity, pressure, or being “good enough.” Now granted, they don’t work full-time jobs or assume “adult” responsibilities, but they teach us something important about living life to the fullest.
As humans, we attach our worth to our productivity (I know I do). Habits like rest and play feel “earned” instead of essential to our overall well-being. But in Ecclesiastes 3:9-14, we see that we are to enjoy life. God didn’t create us to be machines that work endlessly without joy. If all we live for is work on this side of Heaven, we will be sadly disappointed.
“What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him” (Ecclesiastes 3:9-14, NIV)
Friends, God didn’t design us to live in a state of constant striving. And every time I see my dog push his butt into the air and wag his tail, I’m reminded of this. Play isn’t childish, but rather it’s restorative. It’s not optional, but essential to a life lived well.
Today, I’d ask you to ponder these two questions:
- Where have I stopped allowing joy in my life?
- What would it look like to embrace small, simple delight again?
Dogs Model Rhythms of Rest, Nourishment, and Presence
The second thing that dogs teach us about living is a healthy model of rest, nourishment, and presence. Ironically, dogs live in rhythms we resist but desperately need. For example, my dog Oso eats when he’s hungry, rests when he’s tired, and is present in every moment. As humans (myself included), we ignore hunger cues, overwork ourselves to the point of exhaustion, endlessly scroll, and live distracted lives. We think we’re multitasking for the better when the reality is we’re living lives at a pace we were never meant to uphold.
In Psalm 23, we read that Christ “makes us lie down in green pastures.” While a traditionally common Psalm, I’m often reminded that most of us avoid doing what this Scripture actually says. God leads us into rest, but we often resist it. But rest isn’t laziness, friends, it’s obedience to one of the highest callings in our lives. When we avoid rest, we embrace chronic exhaustion, burnout, and anxiety—not the tradeoff we were looking for if you ask me.
Instead of avoiding the soul-nourishing things we need in this life, try asking yourself: “Where am I overriding my God-given limits?” Then, take a lesson from our furry friends and practice eating regularly, honoring rest, and being present in one moment today.
Dogs Reflect Unconditional Love and Loyalty
The final thing that dogs teach me about living life to the fullest is that they love in a way that mirrors the heart of God. For those of you who don’t love dogs, hang with me. Even if you aren’t a fan of these tail-wagging, four-legged friends, it’s undeniable—dogs don’t hold grudges, and are the most loyal creatures God’s created.
Thankfully, dogs don’t withdraw affection based on our performance, but many humans do. We often live out of conditional love, fear of rejection, or performance-based worth. But Romans 5:8 reminds us that God loved us while we were still sinners. Dogs remind us what love looks like without ego. What it looks like to love when we’re forgotten about, not played with in 3 days, or yelled at for an accident. Their love is relentless.
When I think about the gift God gave us through dogs, I ponder why it’s often easier to accept love from a dog than from God. Perhaps because we’re still trying to prove ourselves or live with unrealistic expectations. But Jesus invites us into receiving His love without earning it. He offers us a love without bounds—a love you can choose to accept today.
Tail-Wagging Reminders
The first week my husband and I adopted our dog was a stressful adjustment. But looking back, I know that moment wasn’t random. These furry friends aren’t random creatures; they are beautiful, playful, and loving reminders of God’s love and care for His creation.
If you open your eyes, God can use ordinary things to teach us extraordinary truths, and I know He teaches me a lot through my pet. This week, I encourage you to notice when your dog plays, rests, and loves. Then, join them in the joy. Honor your own limits. And when you receive the love, choose to pour it back out.
Maybe the wagging tail at your feet is pointing you back to the heart of God—the heart of a God who chose to bless us with dogs.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Gary Yeowell
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.
