The Dog That Made You Laugh on a Hard Day
Sweet friend, I want you to think back to a day when your heart felt heavy, because the dog that made you laugh on that hard day may have been one of the quiet little miracles God sent your way.
Maybe you were worried about something you couldn’t fix. Maybe you were just plain tired, or lost deep in your thoughts. And then a dog went racing after a ball, rolled happily in the grass, or proudly carried a stick twice its size. Suddenly, out of nowhere, you laughed. For a few seconds, whatever had been weighing on you wasn’t quite so heavy.
I’d like to sit with you for a minute, like we’re having a cup of coffee together, and talk about why that moment matters so much. 💜
The Dog That Made You Laugh Was a Gift
We tend to brush off the small moments. We say, “Oh, that was just a silly dog,” and we move on with our day. But dear one, I don’t believe God wastes anything, and that includes a laugh.
Think about it. You didn’t plan to smile that day. You probably weren’t looking for joy. Yet there it was, bounding across the grass with its tail wagging, completely unaware that it was healing something in your heart. The dog that made you laugh wasn’t trying to teach you anything. It simply loved the moment, and in doing so, it gave you permission to love it too.
Scripture says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22) Sometimes the medicine we need most doesn’t come in a bottle. Sometimes it comes with floppy ears, muddy paws, and a tennis ball it’s very proud of. 🐾
3 Reminders From the Dog That Made You Laugh
If you’re having one of those days right now, here are three gentle reminders I hope you’ll tuck into your heart.
1. Joy can find you even when you’re not looking for it.
You don’t have to work your way out of a hard day before joy is allowed in. Joy has a way of slipping through the cracks of even the heaviest moments. Let it in without guilt.
2. Laughing in the middle of a struggle doesn’t mean you’re ignoring it.
Sweet friend, you can carry a heavy heart and still smile at a puppy. Laughter doesn’t erase your worries, but it does lighten the load, even if only for a moment. That’s a mercy, not a betrayal of what you’re going through.
3. You are not alone, even on your hardest days.
That little burst of happiness was a reminder that God is near. He knows you. He sees you. And He knows exactly what will make you smile when you’ve forgotten how.
What the Dog That Made You Laugh Teaches Us About Love
Have you ever noticed how a dog loves? There are no conditions. No scorecards. No waiting until you’ve got your life together. A dog greets you at the door with the same wild happiness whether you’ve had a wonderful day or a terrible one.
I can’t help but think that’s a little glimpse of how God loves us. He doesn’t wait for us to be perfect or cheerful or strong. He meets us right where we are, in the middle of our worry and weariness, and He gently reminds us that we are cherished. A wagging tail is a pretty good picture of grace, don’t you think? 💛
And maybe that’s why the dog that made you laugh stays in your memory so clearly. It wasn’t just a funny moment. It was a moment of being loved, plain and simple.
Let the Dog That Made You Laugh Remind You to Smile Today
So today, I’d like to encourage you to notice the little things. The sunshine warming your face. The sweet creature who wants nothing more than to be near you. The laughter that bubbles up when you least expect it. Pay attention to those moments, and thank God for them. They are small, but they are never meaningless.
Life is such a precious gift, even with all its hard days, and I want you to enjoy it. Go ahead and giggle at the silly things. Throw the ball one more time. Let yourself be a little goofy. Your heart will thank you. 🌼
Never underestimate the miracle of something that makes you smile when you had forgotten you needed one.
You are loved, you are never alone, and you are so very blessed. Hold onto that today, sweet friend.
Now I’d love to hear from you. What’s the funniest thing a dog has ever done to make you laugh on a hard day? Share it in the comments below, because I know it’ll make me smile too! 🐶💜
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With love and faith,
Marilyn 💜