I had not planned to blog again until this coming week when I will be doing a blog with my friend, tv and film star, Elaine Hendrix. But, as they say, “The best laid plans often go awry.” Today something happened to me that I just have to share with you. It goes to show that at my age, when I think I have experienced it all, there is always a lesson to be learned. A miracle to see. A joy to share. Today the joy was shared with me by a child I don’t even know. For a few brief moments, this little girl let me see the joy and belief in Christmas through her eyes and I am so grateful. Let me tell you about it.
This huge baby is my dog Addie. She is one of the brightest lights in our lives. A three year old, 165 pound bundle of love who is 95% heart and 5% dog. We adore her. Addie is actually a bit of a movie star. When she was 6 weeks old she was one of the puppies in the Disney film, “Beethoven’s Big Break.” Since that time she has retired and is just our baby 24/7. She is the epitome of a gentle giant. She is a beastie who is so large that you cannot find a dog bed for her so her favorite place to lay at one time was an old sofa which she filled with her enormity.
Addie has now grown to a size where she sleeps in the laundry room and has access to the kitchen. So today was time to do my weekly clean up of any shedded hair (she sheds like a mad woman) and clean her sleeping area. I was feeling a little bitchy because I hate this chore. Finally I finished and I decided to go outside for a breather before moving on to my next house cleaning task.
So as I am standing there inspecting the oranges that are ripening so beautifully on the tree in my front yard, a little girl about five or six comes running up my driveway excitedly screaming, “This is the house, daddy! This is the house!” She was followed by her father who was trying to convince her that you just can’t run up to people’s homes without being invited. She then turned to her daddy and said, “Santa’s dog lives here!”
I had never seen the little girl or her daddy before. She was adorable. About that time, Addie, jumped up on the gate (which is almost 5 feet tall) to greet the child and this kid went nuts with excitement. Her father’s eyes got huge at the size of the dog, lol. As I stepped from behind the orange tree I heard him tell her, “Honey, I don’t think it’s Santa’s dog, but I’ll bet it’s one of Santa’s dog’s puppies.” The child seemed to accept that. At that point I had walked over to them and he began to apologize for the intrusion. I told him not to worry, I didn’t mind at all. At that point the little girl looked up at me and asked me if Addie was one of Santa’s puppies. I couldn’t help myself. I said, “Well, yes she is. How did you know?” She was literally shaking with excitement, “I just knew it. I saw her before.” Oh the beauty of belief in a world that is so hard most of the time.
At that point I asked her if she would like to meet Addie and she said yes. So, I opened the gate and held Addie by the collar so that she wouldn’t accidently knock the little one over and let them get to know each other. Addie is such a lover and she was so huge next to that tiny body. But she was so gentle and still as the little one hugged her and kissed her on the forehead. The little girl actually had tears in her eyes (as did her dad and I) as she kept telling Addie, “I just knew it was you.” It was a very humbling experience.
When the time came to go home and let Addie get back to her work of playing jolly ball in her yard, she thanked me and hugged her daddy. He then mouthed to me as she was hugging him, “Thank you.” To which I said, “No. Thank you.”
This was such an unexpected and precious experience for me. The privilege at my age, in this very difficult world, to see Christmas joy through the eyes of this little girl I didn’t even know and never even got the name of. She is just a little angel who flitted in and out of my life for a very brief moment. But, WOW, what an impact she had. I have had such a light heart and felt such Christmas joy since she left here. I went outside and had a snuggling session with Addie and thanked her for being such a sweet girl then I went in the house and finished cleaning up the dog hair she has left around with a totally different attitude.
I had no clue what tv special or story the little girl may have gotten the idea that a St. Bernard was a “Santa Dog”. But, I have since talked to my daughters, Christa and Melanie, and they tell me that there is a dvd of Beethoven’s Christmas. So we are figuring that must be where the child got the idea. But, I tell you one thing. I’m so glad she did because it became a true Christmas blessing for me.
What a humbling and beautiful story. The gift of Christmas was in that little girl’s heart. May she always keep that special attribute and not lose it in the black of adulthood and commercialism.
What a beautiful, happy story. The excitement and joy of this precious little girl, believing Addie is one of Santa’s dogs, has warmed my heart and has me grinning ear-to-ear. Isn’t it amazing how the innocence of children can lighten the load.
You know, you are so right, Kay. I have had this feeling of peace in my heart since this happened. It’s been a very sweet thing.
Oh man….now the two of you have me tearing up. Out of the mouths of babes….wow! Those moments just shake you a bit and wiggle into your heart and the rest of the world just falls away for awhile. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I’m going to hold onto that as long as I can. Thanks Theresa and Carol. I’m looking over at my sweet pooch, Finn, a rescue with special needs. He’s the most loving and sweetest dog ever…..he’d make a nice head pillow for Addie. So if I may be so bold….Finn sends a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and hugs and kisses to his new cousins, Addie and Baby Tessa.
BTW….it’s me, Lynda Lively Johnson, haha! Can’t change that username….dang it!!
It’s amazing what we learn from children and their honest belief. And these amazing animals. Wow! Unconditional love meets unconditional love and belief. We adults could learn much from them both.
Finn sounds wonderful. Addie sends her love right back to him.
Yes it is. They never cease to amaze me. Can’t wait to get my arms wrapped around my grandkids. If we’d only listen better to our two legged and 4 legged children, the world would be a much happier, trusting and better place. :o)
What a beautiful story. If you have faith and love in your heart, Christmas miracles do come true. A great lesson to learn from a child.
It’s so true Christa. It has been a profoundly sweet lesson in faith for me.
You know, just when I get all comfortable with my “bitchiness”, you had to go and ruin it with this incredibly sweet, sweet story. My brother-in-law is blessed with a wonderfully rotund shape, has longish white hair and a long, flowing white beard – and has been blessed with a natural and loving connection to all children. Dean has this incredible booming voice to boot. He and my sister rescue feral cats, socialize them, have them spayed and adopt out their kittens. One day, a family came to select a kitten and the little girl whispered to her mother, “It’s Santa, I just know it!” The mother tried to reassure her that he was not Santa, but merely looked like him. Dean could see the disappointment on her face, but knew she wasn’t entirely convinced. He took a kitten over to her, knelt down and whispered, “I think this would be a good one for you… and you know, if you love it and treat it real good, I’ll know it and bring you something real special for Christmas.” and he winked at her. She positively BEAMED and told her mother that THIS was the kitten she had to have. There’s nothing like restoring a little faith and bringing a little joy into the life of a child. From that day forward, my brother-in-law has been one of my heroes. This story immediately reminded me of that moment. Thank you, thank you for sharing. And Baby Tessa *my Newfie* says hello to Cousin Addie. 😉
What a precious story, Carol. I can just imagine the look on the little girl’s face when Dean leaned down and said that to her. Such a sweet memory for all of you and a powerful memory for the little girl.
So often I get so wrapped up in the goings on of the adult world that I forget the magic of a child’s heart and this little one brought that back to me in blazing clarity. Even today, my daughters and I are smiling over this and have lighter hearts. What a privilege it was to be able to make her happy and to insure the magic of being a child for her in even the smallest way.
Events like this just humble me completely and reinforce in me the fact that no matter how hard the adult world tries to make everything black and mean, there is still good, there is still magic and there is still faith.
Addie sends a Merry Christmas and love to her sweet Cousin Baby Tessa.