As I watched my puppy playing in the snow this morning my mind drifted back to when we got him. Eddy is an American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, aka a ‘pitbull’. He’s a beautiful brown brindle, with tuxedo markings and he weighs about 75lbs, runs as fast as a train and bounces up to about six feet in the air. But when we got him almost a year ago now, he was a scared little boy.

Eddy had spent the first year of his life on a chain, on his own, outside. When I pulled out the leash to take him for a walk, he hid ~ frightened that he’d be put outside again. He didn’t know how to play; just didn’t understand the concept of playing with toys or running and chasing. Eddy didn’t know how to accept affection, so giving him a cuddle turned into a battle. He had no manners, no social skills and hated to go for a walk or a ride in the car incase he was abandoned again.

This morning I watched Eddy play in the snow. He bounced, snuffled his nose into it, chased snow flakes and spun around and around on the slippery porch. As I laughed, I took a moment to give thanks for the wonderful blessing he is in my life and I realized just how far Eddy has come. Eddy has been healed by love. He now walks on a leash, trotting along beside me as I walk down the country lanes. He has learnt how to heel, to come, down, stay out of the kitchen when I’m cooking, to roll-over for a treat and to shake paws. Eddy can now play: loving his favorite toys, chewing his ‘tires’, chasing and fetching; even wrestling with my hubby and my brother.

And Eddy now loves to cuddle! If given half a chance, he’s the biggest lap-dog in the world…lol! He sneaks his head onto my lap while I’m knitting or watching TV, and I swear he’s sending me telepathic messages “Love me, love me, love me!” He sleeps under my desk when I’m writing or working at the computer. He sits by the door waiting, when hubby is due home from work. He leaps into my car to go for a ride.

If the power of love can turn around the life of a neglected dog, what can the power of love do for us? Choose kindness, be loving and stay strong ~ perseverance pays off. Take time to allow people to be and don’t judge; give them room to change and keep loving them. In less than a year I’ve seen a scared puppy grow into a happy, healthy dog. What magic will we generate in this world if we take this to the people we meet?

I believe in the healing power of love.