Dog is God Spelled Backwards

“Dog is God spelled backwards.”

Have you ever noticed that? This past week was very sad and difficult, and I thought about this quote several times. I do not know the author, but I first saw it on a church sign in East Nashville years ago. It never left me.

I cannot remember a time in my life that did not include a pet; either a cat or a dog and at times, both. Growing up in the rural south, I guess it was a given that animals would be part of our scenery.

As hard as it is to comprehend, there are people who do not like animals, and especially animals indoors. It wasn’t until my daddy died that we ever had an animal indoors. He was a typical farmer that thought animals were best left to the outdoors.

Two days before he died, he surprised me with a very tiny chihuahua-mix puppy who we named Chip. In fact, Chip was so tiny that he was in bed with me two nights later when my daddy died of a sudden heart attack. 

After that, Chip was an inside dog and had every comfort us humans enjoyed, including a weekly bath in the tub. He was such a comfort to us all, and perhaps the first time I recognized that animals are divine creatures.

Two of my family members had surgery within 48-hours of one another last week, one being my sister. The day before her surgery, her beloved pup, Cashew crossed the rainbow bridge. It was sudden and left us stunned and grieving. 

Cashew stayed with us whenever my sister had to travel. He loved his Uncle Cas and was a sweetheart. He and Wiggles played with one another and jostled for attention. He only liked to eat chicken (chick-a-bird) and was explicit about his schedule. My sister adopted him from a rescue in Corpus Christi, TX, while on a nursing assignment several years ago. 

During his time with her, he got to travel the U.S. in an RV and made friends with other dogs wherever they went. For the past five and half years, he lived in Sacramento. He was happy to be at their new home back in Mississippi next door to cousin Daisy, my aunt’s dog. At his new home, he had his own fenced in yard, but he preferred trailing along behind Daisy and a neighbor dog, Bob.

We have shed many tears and miss him terribly. He was a companion and friend for my sister, being miles away from home and family. RIP dear Cashew. Thank you for loving my sister and bringing her so much joy.

The very next day, a dear friend recognized that her elderly dog, Weegee was having a stroke during the night. She took him out into the backyard where he stayed until friends came and helped her get him to the vet. I couldn’t help but wonder if Cashew was there to show him the way over.

Weegee was a Louisiana pup and had moved to Mississippi a couple of years ago. Like Cashew, he too was a rescue. He lived with my friend for thirteen years, and even though he was a large pup (85 to 90 lbs.), he was a gentle giant. I had the pleasure of spending a little time with him. Calm was the word I would use to describe his spirit. Calm and gentle. RIP in sweet Weegee. Thank you for being with my dear friend through some very rough waters.

Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending a tea with one of my lifelong best friends. The speaker was a local artist, and she shared her personal story. Several years ago, she began to commune with nature to grow deeper in her spiritual walk and creativity. As she did that, the animals and birds began to come to her. 

She shared what I already knew – animals are amazing and will show you the path to love. I scoff when someone indicates that animals are soulless and bothersome. I had a sibling that did not like animals – so unlike the rest of our family. I felt it was because she had a hard time receiving love. 

I love cats, but they have their own agenda. Dogs, however, are nothing but channels of love. In a dog you will see a true representation of unconditional love. Dogs live in the moment. It doesn’t matter how ugly you treat them, within a minute they will wag their tail and come back to you. 

As the speaker shared her journey with animals, I was reminded once again that nature and animals mimic the divine. I believe it is why we have an internal desire to be in nature, or at least around it. 

Our world is so full of the opposite of love. It would benefit us to put our phones down and go outside (preferably in the shade) and listen to the rustle of the trees, and the songs of the birds. Maybe take a short walk, preferably with a dog.

“Dog is God spelled backwards.” Yes indeed.