Meet Atlas
If you’ve been following this site for any length of time you probably remember our boy Andy who was a Golden Retriever, almost 15 years old, and unofficially considered the best dog ever. We had to say goodbye to Andy in January of this year and as many of you have experienced it was one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. He will forever be in our hearts and is missed every day. Fast forward to July, we decided it was time to find the heir to Andy’s Golden throne and we hit the proverbial Golden jack pot. I’d like to introduce you to Atlas our new Golden Retriever pup! We named him Atlas because he’s our traveling buddy.
It's been interesting adjusting from an older pup to a brand new one. Here’s a few observations I’ve made since we’ve had him. I’ve broken them down into two columns, one representing Andy and the other Atlas. Here you go.
Andy Atlas
Reacts slower; more calculating Reacts quickly; impulsive
Experienced; content Highly curious; anxious
Trusting; relaxed Learning to trust; cautious
Freely gives and receives love Freely gives and receives love
Smart but unlearning Smart and learning quickly
Fully grown physically, emotionally, etc Rapidly growing physically, emotionally, etc
Lived a full life Only just begun living life
There’s a scripture in Ecclesiastes 3 that says “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: …” Life comes at us fast, especially the older you get. When we’re young we think we know everything, feel entitled, and think we’re untouchable. As we get older we become more present, vulnerable, and grateful. With that being said, let’s draw a few conclusions from the life of these two beautiful Golden Retrievers.
To all my older friends out there let’s continue to be teachable, curious, and looking to grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. There’s so much still to learn and accomplish. Contentment is good when it comes to worldly possessions but not when it comes to growth and service. God’s not finished with us yet. I’m praying for the strength and power of Caleb (Ref. Joshua 14:6-15) for each of you and for myself. Our tendency will be not to take risks but to always play it safe. Let’s not be afraid to try new things, step out in faith, and continue to take mountains.
To all my younger friends out there, as much as you can slow down and try not to be so impulsive. Your older self will thank you for taking the time to process big decisions and seek wise counsel as often as possible. Also, slow down enough to be present with the people and things that matter most. Lean into your passion to learn. It’s a gift, especially for today’s generation with everything so easily accessible online and should be stewarded accordingly. Don’t take your elders for granted. They have things to teach you that can’t be found in books or online.
To both my older and younger friends, let’s give and receive love freely. There are some of you who have a hard time showing love to others. Don’t assume your family and friends know you love them. We have to use our words and actions to communicate how much we love them. There’s another group of you that have a hard time receiving love. For some reason you think don’t deserve it, but nothing could be farther from the truth. If Jesus thinks you are worthy of love that settles it. Learn to receive His love and the love from family and friends. It’s life giving!
Who would have thought we could learn so much from two Golden Retrievers? All of our furry friends can certainly teach us a lot and most certainly make life interesting. Our hearts and minds are full of great memories of Andy and all the adventures we had together. But we are also excited about the new journey with Atlas and all the adventures we’ll have with him. Grateful for the past, excited for the future. That seems like a great way to live!