Editorial June 23, 1997 Issue

A sweet presence in the home

Barbara M. Vining

I Suppose it was just a matter of time before Cindy would make her way into an editorial. That's the way it is with the things we love—the things that make a home in our hearts. They keep popping up in our thoughts, our homes, our conversations, even in our writing.

Cindy is a cockapoo—a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle. I found her at a local pet store. It happened the very day after I realized that all of God's creatures can express only His nature. This helped me to see that a pet doesn't have to have any nuisance factors—not a single one. And that's the way it has been with Cindy. She's clean; she rarely barks; she's obedient; she's even polite. But mostly, she's notable for her gentle, affectionate disposition, which makes her especially pleasant to have around. So, every night before I go to bed, when I give her a hug, I say to her, "Thank you, Cindy, for being such a sweet presence in our home." And I thank God for giving me the inspiration that led me to find her.

There is a need for a sweet presence in every home. Not necessarily in the form of a pet, or even another person, but certainly in the form of gentle, loving thoughts. These come to us from God. If I had not made room in my heart for sweet thoughts from God concerning His creatures, I think it's unlikely that I would have found Cindy or that I would be enjoying her so thoroughly. And, of course, Cindy isn't the only good thing that has come into my life as the result of welcoming God's loving thoughts. For one thing, the presence of these thoughts in my heart has given me a sweeter disposition—made it pleasanter for me to live with myself and, I hope, for others to live with me!

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