I'll Take Care Of You

The first thing Lucy the beagle ever heard from our oldest son was “I’ll take care of you.”  She hasn’t stopped following him since then.

In 2016, Sarah and I decided to get the family a dog. It had been eight years since we experienced the pain of losing a dog to cancer-Sunny, a beagle Sarah and I had gotten only one month into our marriage. The kids were too small to remember her, and we wanted them to know the joys and responsibilities of having a dog in the house.

I say we decided, but in truth I showed Sarah a picture of a tiny seven-week-old beagle and asked her if we should let the kids have a dog. I knew what I was doing.

“Is she available still?” She asked.

“Yes, I called them earlier today.”

“You get her! You get her now!”

Could you say no to getting this floppy eared cutie?

So little Lucy traveled to us and arrived as a tiny bundle of cuteness. We quickly realized she’d probably been the runt of her litter or perhaps wasn’t treated well. She was timid, cautious, and untrusting. So we set about earning her trust and giving her every signal she’d arrived in a safe home with lots of love, treats, and snuggles.

As we did, a curious thing happened. We noticed almost immediately, she took a liking to Ethan, our oldest child. Lucy grew to love snuggling all of us, but with Ethan it was another level. She sought him out. If we were on the couch it was his lap she found. If we walked in the door it was his face she jumped to lick. She loved us all, but had a special connection with him.

Ethan was nine-years-old when Lucy arrived. From his heart came that first phrase her ears ever heard him say. I’ll take care of you. And he did. He fussed over her food, her water, and her comfort-and still does.

Something in that tiny, insecure dog’s spirit received what came from his heart before she even knew him. It was because it was genuine, and came from a place deep within. A place filled with gentleness, kindness, and love for this helpless creature.

I believe in even the most independent person’s soul, there is a craving-a deep desire to be loved and nurtured. A need to be seen, valued, and supported. There is so much hurt, anger, and anxiety all around us. So many people are hurting and longing to hear someone sees them and cares.

Lucy’s anxiety was set at ease when her heart understood-I’ll take care of you.

We were fortunate to catch that moment on video. Every time I see it I’m reminded of the power of words to convey compassion, and of the even greater power of a genuine heart to provide comfort and hope. There are people around each and every one of us who need to see genuine kindness and care.

Jesus once said, “…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” If more of us allowed our hearts to be filled with compassion and empathy, something tells me the words spoken online, in public, and in private could work powerful healing, and the actions that would follow could be world changing.

So what’s in your heart? Does your family feel safe and comforted? Do your neighbors? Do the people on the other side of the social media screens?

May our words and our hearts make them feel as cared for as Lucy the beagle.