The Benefits of Being Fiercely Loyal
When I came across the phrase “Fiercely Loyal” and I immediately thought of our dog, Griffin. Most dogs are known for their loyalty to their master, but our dog was what we considered to be fiercely loyal.
He used to sit on the back of our couch with the most intense gaze on our pear tree, watching a family of squirrels in anticipation of their next move. They would play a game of cat and mouse, as one would slowly creep down the trunk of the tree and Griffin would burst out the doggie door in a mad chase to defend the backyard.
Griffin was part of our family for over 15 years, and from the very beginning, he found his identity as the protector of our family. He was there as we raised our children, and he was with us as we watched them leave — one by one — for college. Last year, when his body was weak and in pain, he would still lay at my feet — ever the protector.
John Grogan, the author of Marley and Me, said this of his dog Marley:
A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. He taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart.
He taught me to appreciate the simple things — a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me…
