Vivi’s Love
It seems that in some of life’s hardest moments, we discover the deepest kind of love.
Recently, my daughter and her husband said goodbye to their furry love of 17 years. Vivi was more than a pet. She was more than just a pup. She was a companion who walked beside them through different seasons of life, the good and the difficult, the celebrations and the disappointments, the highs and the lows.
As my daughter reflected on their years together, she said something that stayed with me: “She taught me how to love.”
There is something powerful in those words.
Vivi’s love wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t based on convenience, circumstances, or what she might receive in return. She simply loved her people. She stayed close. She was present. She was dependable. Day after day, year after year, she loved “her pack” unconditionally.
It made me wonder how often we allow our own love, and our relationships, to become conditional. As long as the relationship is convenient, easy, or beneficial, we are willing to love, give, and support. But what happens when the waters get rough? What happens when investing in someone becomes inconvenient, when loving them requires sacrifice, or when there is nothing for us to gain in return?
Do we still show up? Do we still give? Do we still love?
There is something beautiful about consistent, dependable, unfiltered care for another person. In a world where relationships can easily become transactional, focusing on “What have you done for me lately?” or “What am I getting out of this?”, perhaps we need to remember what authentic devotion looks like.
Vivi did an outstanding job of loving her pack. For 17 years, she offered a simple picture of relationship: trust, presence, loyalty, and taking care of one another. It is a powerful reminder of what relationships can be.
When we choose to shift from conditional relationships to authentically investing in others, we will make a difference.
Larry
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