Perseverance and pets, a lifelong lesson in relationships.

I love animals, especially dogs. I have never seen a dog "walk away" from a family, throw its paws up in the air in defeat, or scream out "I quit!" to the family it has been given to. The animal possesses a pure quality a lot of people just don't get.

Through patience and compassion, the animal can be trained to be one of the best assets to the family unit. They teach children love and responsibility. If perseverance is an admired ambition to be had in life, it certainly calls in to respect the same attributes needed for a thriving relationship between a man and a woman.

As a member of the family, the pet stands up for it's people. It proves its love by the action it prompts in serving its family. It doesn't give up. It perseveres through hard times and aggravating circumstances.

And the most beautiful attribute of having a pet is the fact that the animal just wants to be loved for what it is, and accepted for what purpose it serves...no matter what. Just like we do in a relationship, desiring to be accepted for who we are in the eyes of the one we are hoping to win favor with.

So there is a silent nobility to be in awe of when a person has a pet. A good friend. A persevering comrade walking with you through life, no matter what comes and goes.

I had good old Jake for nearly fifteen years, until the arthritis took him down. I learned the value to sticking in there, holding on, and having hope to keep going. Even when there were times Jake got on my nerves!

Just like having children, it is not an easy task to raise good kids. It is not an easy job to train a puppy to be a good dog. But you persevere. You don't give up.

I am thankful I had pets growing up, because I do not think I would have looked at relationships the same way if I had not of learned the responsibility and perseverance of taking on something important.