"A great man is one who does not lose his childlike heart." Mencius

Even the ancients knew the heart of happiness lies in the viewpoint of a child.

I could not resist sharing the heart felt story I received from my daughter-in-law today. Life should be kept simple, for in that state, joy and love abound.

A Dog's Purpose? (View point of a six year old)
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa and their son Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offed to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be a good for six year old Share to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surround him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered  if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I think and live.

He said "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life, like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

From the mouth of a child comes the knowledge of the aged:
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.

And remember, if a dog taught your class you would learn to:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them,
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride,
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy,
Take naps,
Stretch before rising,
Run,romp, and play daily,
Thrive on attention an let people touch you,
Avoid biting when a simpe growl will do,
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass, On hot days, drink lots of water and find a shady tree,
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body,
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk,
Be loyal,
Never pretend to be something you're not,
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it,
When someone is having a bad  day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!!