Whatsit Wednesday: Dog breeds

Back in June, we said goodbye to our sweet dog, Chester, who was not even originally our dog. He was chosen by our 90 year-old sister, Willemien, when she could not do without a dog after her previous dog unexpectedly passed away. Willemien had always asked that we care for her dog if she herself were to pass away first. She made it to 95 years old, so we took Chester at that time. Chester made it to 94,5 in dog years. But Chester was a cocker spaniel,  a common dog here, but not a Belgian or Dutch dog. Whats’s that, you say? What is a Belgian or Dutch dog? 

There are several Belgian breeds that are well known around the world, although you might not have known that they were Belgian. The Malinois is a very energetic dog often used for police and military purposes. The Brussels Griffon, on the other hand, is a well-known lap-dog as is the Papillon (a toy Spaniel, named as such because its ears look like butterflies). 

The bloodhound is actually called a St. Hubert hound from Belgium. Then there is also the Schipperke, a lesser well-known dog that doesn’t know how small he is. Sometimes nicknamed the ‘little black devil’ it looks a bit like a Tasmanian devil and has the energy to go with it. This is the Belgian version of a sea dog. 

And the Bouvier des Flandres is a huge wooly dog, from Flanders (the Dutch-speaking area of Belgium), which monks formed by crossing Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds. These Bouviers (which means cattle herder) are one of the first dogs I saw when I first came to the Netherlands. It amazed me, because the Dutch live in tiny apartments, but have no fear keeping such a dog as it lived on ships.  

The best known Dutch breed is the Keeshond. Every Dutch child at one time knew this dog, even if they had never seen a dog before. The alphabet was learned from a ‘leesplank’ a reading plank that had pictures to show the letters of the alphabet. So ‘a’ is for ‘aap’ (that is: ape) And ‘k’ is ‘kees’ with a picture of this dog. 

The dog was often kept on Dutch barges and was familiar throughout the country. At one point it was a symbol of the Dutch patriots. The name means ‘Kees’ dog where ‘Kees’ is a common name in the Netherlands. The name could have come from a well-known dog during the patriot days, or one of the patriots themselves. These dogs are family of the Samoyed and Pomeranian. 

These days we don’t really care what breed a dog is, as long as we get a chance to stop and pet it. On our most recent trip to the US a young woman had her dog with her in the airport. When asked, she was more than willing to allow me to say hello to her dog, understanding that we could use the comfort. We will not be getting another dog, but will continue enjoying seeing dogs around us. 

Walking in the rain

Yesterday I took the dog out. I do that every day. Twice. In the morning it is usually a wonderful time to think, to pray, to be aware that it is a new day with God. In the evenings, especially now since the days are getting longer again, the sunset might remind me of the blessings that continue daily. Chester’s joy and simply running around, sniffing, putting his ‘signature’ everywhere he can, lifts my heart. 

But sometimes it is raining. We live in Belgium, after all. I almost always take the umbrella with me, whether I think it is raining or not - because it might start after I get going on the walk. And the wind might be blowing. Hard. Which doesn’t always go well with carrying an open umbrella (and why would I have the umbrella shut if it is raining?). Water streams across the path and my socks get wet. I pull down my cap over my ears on the mornings that it is still freezing (which are quickly passing away). 

But I am just thankful that I can be outside, walking. I know people who cannot go outside and they really miss it. People in these days are being asked (told) to stay inside. Don’t get together with others. Don’t meet. Don’t greet. Don’t touch. But I live in a place where there are not that many people. I can walk. I can put a coat on and go outside and walk. And I am with God, wherever I go. 

I am thankful for how blessed I am. And I am thankful that no matter where I go I can walk with the One who created me, who knows what is happening in my life, who guides me and gives me strength each morning as the sun rises (even when I do not see it) and calms my evenings with a beautiful sunset and a night of rest (if I am willing to accept it). Isn’t it amazing that the one thing God did with Adam and Eve in the garden was take a walk?

Take a walk today, even if you can’t. Spend time with Him and be thankful for all the good that He continues te provide. Some days are going to be harder than others. But He is walking with you. And that is what He has always wanted to do. 

If we are walking in the light ,as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us of all sin.  1 John 1:7

Gospel truths of a dog owner

Whaddya want?

Any dog-owner can attest to the fact that we all learn from our dogs. Cats will probably laugh at that statement – how could anyone learn from a dog. But you know what God through the apostle Paul said: “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Coritnhians 1:20) So I have paid attention to the humble life of my dog and have tried to glean wisdom from what I see there. It is this that I share with you today.

His original owner called him Bobby. At 8 months he became Lyuba when he went to our sister, Willemien. It was there, in a house where his owner could barely hear anything, that he learned to bark at telephones. But now that she is 94, he is with us – and we call him Chester.

Chester is very attentive. As soon as you move he will be on his feet, wondering what he can do. Even when he is sleeping, he has an eye open, and ear cocked for any clue as to what he might need to do for you.

And he is willing to do anything! He will run around the table three times, shoving the carpet to the side and bumping into anything along the way. He will speed to your feet and wag his tail in anticipation of your order, sweeping any coffee cups from the coffee table, dropping hairs in anyone’s waiting tea cup.  He is ready!

When you talk to him, he will listen attentively, cocking his head. And if you are telling him that he did something wrong, he will dip his sad eyes in seriousness and await your command. For that is what he wants to hear. “What can I do for you?” he says clearly. He has no attention for anything other than what YOU want. The very first thing that he wants to do is whatever you want him to do.

I know that Jesus used a different picture, but the lesson is the same: Food, drink, clothes and the rest – nothing is as important as knowing the will of God.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34

Even that last part is something Chester understands. When his day is done, he will contentedly roll himself up in his basket and snore. What am I saying – he will even do this in the middle of the day! But he is always ready to do his master’s will. Now that is something to learn.