Last Thursday my dog Abbey received a gift certificate. That prompted quite a conversation between Abbey and me about happiness and purpose in our lives. I recorded the conversation below. It all started with with me saying, “My, you’re looking happy today, Abbey. The happiest you have looked in weeks.”
Abbey responded with, “I am happy. Did you hear who came to see me yesterday? Katie. You know, one of Emma’s friends. She brought me a gift certificate to Nutzy Mutz & Crazy Catz, the best pet store in Madison! She wanted to thank me for being Emma’s best friend over the past few years.”
“How nice for you, Abbey. I bet you can hardly wait to go shopping.”
“That’s right. I hope to go next week. Isn’t that great! I get rewarded for doing something I love to do. Emma really became my best friend.”
Then she gave me a wink and said, “Now don’t get jealous – I love you, too.”
“Oh, I know you do, Abbey. You have enough love in you to share with loads of people.”
“Yup, I do. Remember how much I loved ‘Dorothy.’ She was not a morning person. She hated to get up, so every morning I made it easier for her – I jumped into her bed and licked her face until she started giggling. That was so much fun!”
“Abbey, you really become close friends with almost everyone who lives here. I guess that’s your gift.”
“I know it is. I am so lucky! With my genes, I have two natural gifts – being a best friend (from my golden retriever mom) and having a terrific nose (from my beagle dad). I could have become a high profile canine drug enforcement officer sniffing out drugs, or a loving companion. I chose the latter. What a life! I bet I’m the richest dog alive, if you measure riches by how many people love you. And now I have a gift certificate, too!”
“Well, I think you deserve it. I could tell your heart was broken when Emma left us to go to heaven.”
“Oh, I really was sad. I still miss her, and I always will. She was a wonderful lady. She would pet me for hours, her gentle hand on my back, the most beautiful smile on her lips, and her sparkling eyes looking down at me. Just remembering her gives me a warm feeling.
“I think I have the best life in the world – being a friendly companion to whoever needs one. I am so happy.”
“You’re right, Abbey. Many people never figure out their life calling like you did.”
“I know that’s true, but I really don’t understand why some people don’t ever figure out what their natural gifts are, and use them. To me, it seems so obvious.”
“I guess our human society has tried to become too practical. We focus on what we can do to earn a living rather than focusing on developing our natural gifts. Sometimes we even completely forget what our natural God-given gifts even are. We’re driven to make money, but we forget to connect that with developing the natural gifts we are born with.”
“I’ll never forget what my God-given gifts are. I know I was born to be a loving companion. And, I love my life! That’s true happiness.”
Whispering Winds Blog 
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