“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you’re my only hope.” – Princess Leia (Star Wars)
“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.” – Kinky Friedman
The good news is that unlike Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi is not our only hope. But he absolutely was a good dog, and that is what counts when you need a furry friend to help you through some hard times.
Kenobi, of course, was our daughter Naomi’s enthusiastic, oversized, silly, slobbery, irrepressible tsunami of love rescue dog. He came into her life when she had to move into her own apartment. And to me he will always be “that dog I really wish I’d had a chance to meet.”
The problem with enthusiastic, large and also loud pit-bull-mix dogs is that too many people who do not know them and love them default to being afraid. And that can be problematic in a place as densely populated as an apartment community.
Fear, as we know from the teachings of Jesus, is the exact opposite of love.
What I want to say most of all about the adorable Obi-Wan Kenobi, who came into our daughter’s life at just the right time, is a huge “Thank you!” Thank you for giving Naomi your unconditional and enthusiastic love just when she needed it.
At the same time, Naomi gave Kenobi – who had run out of time at the shelter – the gift of being loved extravagantly, and spoiled outrageously, and wanted tenderly, and played with joyfully – and so much more.
Love Heals:
Here is the truth: Love is the strongest force on the face of this earth. So while we cannot say (with Princess Leia) that Obi-Wan Kenobi is “our only hope” I can say without hesitation that love is.
Love heals. Love saves. Love believes. Love always wins.
And, also, as Paul wrote, “Love never gives up. Love never loses faith. Love is always hopeful. Love endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinth 13).
Kenobi slobber-pup was in a sense an angel. Angels are messengers from God who remind us of what we need to know, or to remember. But angels do not tend to hang around for long.
So thanks, Obi-Wan Kenobi; well done, good dog – DEREK
WAIT? WHAT? Did James give Obi-Wan Kenobi a home? Or did he pass away? xo
Over the Rainbow Bridge 🙁
so sorry
I’m SO sorry!! When fur-babies pass, they leave such a hole behind. Our sweet cat of 16 years (who thought he was a dog, because he had the biggest personality and love of playing fetch) recently died, and the kids and I cried more than we ever have. I know that your sweet dog will be greatly missed, but what a wonderful life he had!