And Then There Was Murphy

Before I even got into showing dogs in 4-H I knew I was going to love it and I couldn't wait to start. However, my first dog, Buddy, was getting old and I knew he wasn't going to last as long as I wanted. So I started praying and looking for another dog. After a lot of research I decided on a golden retriever. I knew they were really expensive so I prayed more. I considered many different options and got a little discouraged, but one evening after one of my high school volleyball games my dad took a detour. I was really confused where we were going but soon we had stopped at a house and out of the garage came running three or four golden retrievers. I was beyond excited! Then my dad and the dog's owner (who happened to be a truck driver who delivered to my dad's work) started telling me about Murphy. He was a little over a year old and his owner said he had terrible behavior and chewing problems. He didn't know what else to do with Murphy and his wife had told him either she or the dog had to go. So he decided to find a new home for Murphy. The first time I sat down to pet Murphy he calmed right down and there was an immediate connection. We left without Murphy that day but only to get everything ready for him and a couple days later my dad and I drove back to get him. His previous owner just gave him to me and said if I got overwhelmed and needed to bring him back I could; he would understand. I never dreamed of taking him back. He was my dog and my project.

Murphy never had any of the problems I was warned about. He wasn't perfect but he was pretty close to it, and I was so excited to have a dog that loved playing fetch, running with me, and playing in the water! I started training him right away and before long we were winning. I remember one year trying and trying to get him to complete each training step of the "Retrieve" exercise. Finally I got so frustrated with his lack of response that I just decided to try the whole thing at once. He literally did it perfectly. He was apparently just bored with the individual steps and wanted to move on to bigger and better things. 

Murphy and I won many competitions in obedience, showmanship, tricks, and agility, not to mention a couple look-alike contests! We also moved on to win numerous awards at State Fair obedience trials including two champion awards. Murphy was a champ.

One of Murphy's favorite things was visiting numerous nursing homes to visit the residence and perform tricks and obedience exercises. They loved having him come and he loved showing off and getting all their attention, and the occasional snack they would sneak to him. Murphy brought joy and laughter wherever he went. 

Murphy loved playing in the water and one of my funniest memories of him was watching him run through the creek behind our house and bite at the splashes of water next to him. He also saved my cousins' beagle's life one day. Their beagle loved to chase us while we ran and one day he was running down the middle of the road while a car was quickly approaching. So Murphy wisely stopped on the side of the road to take a quick pee. This caused Jake the beagle to run over to the side of the road to sniff while the car sped past. 

Murphy also taught me a lot. He taught me patience, unconditional love, and the power of prayer. If I had described the perfect dog to God and asked for him, I never would have had as good of dog as Murphy. God knew exactly what I needed and Murphy was the kind of dog every dog owner wishes they could have, but rarely get.

Murphy was also the subject of numerous sermon illustrations. He had taught me the incredible importance of trusting me enough to obey, and if he could obey every command I asked of him, how much more should I trust the Lord and obey whatever He asked me to do? Obviously the Lord loves me more perfectly and completely than I love my dog, so that obedience should be natural.

After arthritis set in and Murphy couldn't run with me anymore we settled for nice walks. On our last walk on the Olentangy River Trail, we passed by a man going the opposite direction who smiled and said, "He just looks so happy"! That phrase describes Murphy perfectly. No matter what was going on, Murphy was happy. His tail never stopped wagging, he never stopped following me around the house, he always remembered to walk on my left side, and he always pushed his nose under my hand so I would keep petting him, up until the last few moments of his life. He was a selfless, wonderful dog that I miss terribly, but I am so glad God gave him to me for all these years. He had a great, full life and he deeply enriched my life. 

Shortly after Murphy passed away I was thinking about his unconditional love for me. He was such a loving, wonderful dog and never held a grudge when I didn't measure up. If I didn't know any better I would have thought I was perfect because of the way Murphy loved me. Then I stopped to think; the unconditional love of a pet may be one of God's great gifts to us, but how incredibly much greater and better does God love His children? It seems like a silly comparison, right? I mean, obviously God loves us better than a dog, but honestly; Murphy never loved me less because I forgot to feed him or take him on a walk. How incredible to think that God's love is so much more of an ultimate, unconditional love. How comforting to know and remember.

I miss my dog. The house is too quiet and lonely without him. But at the same time I am so glad we had  so many years together, learning and growing together and hopefully making an impact on others; whether through a sermon illustration, or a friendly nursing home visit.