Hello, and welcome to another blessing Sunday. Traveling with me on this path areAbbie Johnson Taylor
and Lynda Lambert

who shared the idea with me.

A couple weeks ago Hubby made an appointment w/a new PCP. Imagine our surprise when we walked into the clinic and found a beautiful female golden retriever walking around the clinic like she owned the place (turns out she did, or at least the doctor whom she belonged to did). We found out her name was Harro, which is Greek for “joy”, as the physician is originally from Greece. When we arrived for a follow-up, she tried to bolt out the door to say hello before we ever got into the clinic. The assistant said she had become selective over the years who she got excited about, and we evidently fell into that category. Her tail was wagging her, I’ll tell you what! In any event, she’s aptly named, she’s just a bundle of exuberant joy!

Genesis 1-24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened.

25 God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” (NLT)

When God set in motion the process of creation on this earth, he did so abundantly. He didn’t just create a few things–he created exuberantly. And he put us human beings over it all, to love and co-create with Him and take care of what he’d made. Strangely, when we do that, we often find great and very lasting joy.

It’s clear Harro loves being in the clinic w/her owner & the employees and patients who come there. It’s also clear that those employees and many of the patients love Harro. The doctor and the dog are carrying out God’s intent for our lives and the planet. I’m old now, and this is the first time I’ve ever been to a doctor who brought her dog to work, essentially loaning her to the patients for a few moments of love and joy. Call her a therapy dog or whatever, but she makes the clinic a far happier place than it would otherwise be.

God blessed us w/an abundance of animals and plants on this earth that we’re to care for. And when we do, He blesses us in return w/profound joy. Thank you Harro. You’re golden.