The Act of Compassion
I am visiting my Daughter Nancy and her Husband Thomas in Georgia for the month and have been privileged to see the acts of compassion they both do daily as they care for their elderly rescue dog Benji.
They took Benji in about 4 years ago as a rescue. His Momma had just been placed in a nursing home and he needed a home, someone to love and care for him as he aged, for he must have been in his 70’s by doggy years. He was skinny, almost blind and his beautiful coat was matted and so dirty that the shelter had to shave it all off. His had been with his aging mother since a puppy but now she was unable to care for him or herself. Nancy had been volunteering at the animal shelter when he came into the shelter and after discussing it with Thomas they decided to take him in. the prognosis for his longevity was poor and he was not expected to live long but Nan felt that such a loyal dog deserved a loving home until he died. It is now years later and Benji is now totally blind and unsteady. He has been through several falls, and has a back condition that is painful at times, he is unsteady as he walks, unable to hold his urine or his bowels. Diapers have become his daily attire now for almost a year. He loves to take long naps and needs to be put up on the couch or other comfortable spots so he safe from someone tripping over him. He is treated to small amounts of chicken placed in his doggie dish under his food to encourage him to eat and is let out to the closed in porch to do his duty, (since he can no longer negotiate the stairs to the outside. I understand he recently became totally blind.
Tonight I woke up to go to the bathroom and my daughter was coming out of her bedroom carrying Benji to put him outside to do his duty. She was talking to him in that sweet singsong voice used when talking to a baby or small child. It’s Ok Benji, good Benji, I take you outside Benji. I hear no harsh scolding or yelling when he can’t make it past the kitchen by himself to poop on the porch. He is carried outside to the porch if need be and the encouragement and compassion I hear in the voices of my Son in law and daughter as they care for this precious dog is a balm to my soul. Wow I think, were did my daughter learn this from… In Awe I know “Me and my husband and my Father of course” I am so thankful that the lord has let me see the results of the lesson’s a parent hopes to teach their children, extending down the generations. I am blessed to know that the examples of caring and compassion that my Father, husband and I have shown to others, both human and animal, has reflected in the beautiful picture of compassion shown to this little dog today. Too know she is showing her Child, by example, how to be compassionate makes my heart sing with thankfulness to the Lord for his tender mercies.
They took Benji in about 4 years ago as a rescue. His Momma had just been placed in a nursing home and he needed a home, someone to love and care for him as he aged, for he must have been in his 70’s by doggy years. He was skinny, almost blind and his beautiful coat was matted and so dirty that the shelter had to shave it all off. His had been with his aging mother since a puppy but now she was unable to care for him or herself. Nancy had been volunteering at the animal shelter when he came into the shelter and after discussing it with Thomas they decided to take him in. the prognosis for his longevity was poor and he was not expected to live long but Nan felt that such a loyal dog deserved a loving home until he died. It is now years later and Benji is now totally blind and unsteady. He has been through several falls, and has a back condition that is painful at times, he is unsteady as he walks, unable to hold his urine or his bowels. Diapers have become his daily attire now for almost a year. He loves to take long naps and needs to be put up on the couch or other comfortable spots so he safe from someone tripping over him. He is treated to small amounts of chicken placed in his doggie dish under his food to encourage him to eat and is let out to the closed in porch to do his duty, (since he can no longer negotiate the stairs to the outside. I understand he recently became totally blind.
Tonight I woke up to go to the bathroom and my daughter was coming out of her bedroom carrying Benji to put him outside to do his duty. She was talking to him in that sweet singsong voice used when talking to a baby or small child. It’s Ok Benji, good Benji, I take you outside Benji. I hear no harsh scolding or yelling when he can’t make it past the kitchen by himself to poop on the porch. He is carried outside to the porch if need be and the encouragement and compassion I hear in the voices of my Son in law and daughter as they care for this precious dog is a balm to my soul. Wow I think, were did my daughter learn this from… In Awe I know “Me and my husband and my Father of course” I am so thankful that the lord has let me see the results of the lesson’s a parent hopes to teach their children, extending down the generations. I am blessed to know that the examples of caring and compassion that my Father, husband and I have shown to others, both human and animal, has reflected in the beautiful picture of compassion shown to this little dog today. Too know she is showing her Child, by example, how to be compassionate makes my heart sing with thankfulness to the Lord for his tender mercies. 
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