Why Dog is God Spelled Backwards
Have you ever wondered why dog is God spelled backwards? Was it some random fluke of the English language? Or one of God’s happy coincidences? I like to think the latter.
Seamus
Last week our dog, Seamus, was put to sleep after an aggressive form of lymphoma ravaged his body. No longer able to gulp down any and all foods and struggling to walk, we knew it was time. We had hoped for twelve to fourteen years with our pet. We got nine. Such is life. But we are grateful for every one of those years. Nine years young, he was always our puppy.
Sure, Seamus could be a pain at times. I never needed an alarm because Seamus was there every morning waking me to go outside. Then he demanded that I sit just so on the couch, my feet up on the reclined part so he could lie alongside me. And the daily walks. Still, it was all for my own good. Daily walks kept me physically active and resting with my feet up and a companion at my side reminded me of the importance of this rest. And those early morning wake-up calls? They got me up to watch the sunrise.
Seamus’ stomach clock and walk clock could not be ignored. He knew when it was time for his walk, staring at me until I stopped what I was doing. He also knew when it was time to eat and inhaled his food in thirty seconds or less, then waited, expecting bites of whatever my husband or I were eating along with milk bones.
The Gift of Joy
Seamus brought us joy. We loved to watch him prance around the backyard during all seasons, jumping through snow mounds in the winter, chasing the squirrels in the summer months that delighted in teasing him. We trained him to sit with a bone on his nose until we let him have it, proudly showing off his expertise to all who visited. He was a good companion, always wanting to be with us, never tiring of our company.
There is a short window of time when grandchildren are so delighted to see their grandparents that they jump up and down in excitement. Then they hit six or seven, and while still happy to see us, the exuberance is gone. That was never the case with Seamus. He greeted us daily with his tail wagging his whole body. He was always happy to see us as well as any guests or strangers that came to our door. As my husband was fond of saying, if you put your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car and drive around, who will be happy to see you when you open the trunk? (Yes, such is his humor.)
Homo Sapiens and Dogs
As a writer, I love to read widely from diverse sources. I never know when I’ll pick up a nugget of information that may be useful. Recently I read something about the origin of different homo sapiens. There was a brief mention that there might have been a connection between the branch that prevailed and their relationship with dogs. Seems true to me. It is a mutually beneficial relationship.
Why Dog is God Spelled Backwards
So — why dog is God spelled backwards? Because dogs are a source of unconditional love. No one loves us like our dogs, or like God. They have short memories and forget our failings without a pause. Sometimes they push us to do things we would rather not do, for our benefit. God can be pushy too. Dogs bring joy into our lives and are constant companions if we let them, happy to be by our side. How God like. Maybe it’s a bit backwards, but God will do anything and everything to reach us. God uses people, creation, and our pets to let us know we are loved.
And I hope that when I pass on to my next life, God will be jumping up and down, as excited to see me as Seamus was every time I returned from a journey.
What has been your experience with dogs? I would love to hear from you.
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