Cachorros - mensageiros de Deus?

Acabei de pegar esse lindíssimo texto num dos Blogs da Bru. Em breve, ela coloca aqui a tradução. Para quem entende inglês ou mesmo para os "inúmeros" estrangeiros que nos lêem, já está aí. Eu concordo inteiramente. O amor de nossos cachorros é mesmo muito parecido com o de Deus. Incondicional. Lindoooo!

Do dogs really bring us closer to God?
It's a question I have asked myself and been asked many times. As a minister, I am supposed to "be closer to God," so I've heard, and I think people really believe that. It is, however, not entirely true. Although I have a strong faith in God, I believe God exists, loves us, and hears our cries; I still suffer from the same weakness of faith that everyone else does.

I read about a book written about Mother Teresa and her "dark nights of the soul." Of course, no one ever talks about that. Mother Teresa, feeling discouraged and depressed? NEVER! But it happened in her life and it happens in mine. It's even recorded in the Bible. All you have to do is read the Psalms. Many of them were written by David during those "dark nights of the soul" — crying out to God and wondering if God heard him. We all do it. It doesn't matter how much faith you have.

But science has shown that having a pet can often help us find our way out of those troubling times. It doesn't mean I have more faith in my dog than I do God; it means that God can use my pet to get my attention. My dogs' need to play, be walked and fed, be petted, etc. can remind me that there is something more than myself and my troubles in this world. And often that is enough to show me that God loves me.

And for me, the unconditional love my animals give me is a constant reminder of God's love. My dogs don't care what I've done, how I look or smell, where I've been, or that five minutes ago I was yelling at them. They only care about now — and right now, they love me. They are, for me, a constant reminder of God's love. I do believe that pets, especially dogs are truly God's angels on earth.

The word angel harks back to the Greek word angelos, which means "messenger." And to me, dogs and other animal companions are indeed messengers from God. They remind me who I am and who God is.

As Allen and Linda Anderson have written, "Dogs deliver messages such as, 'When you are lonely, weary, overwhelmed by life's burdens, I am here.' People, who are in pain, often can't hear the voice of God whispering comfort and hope. So God sends them a messenger with a furry face, wagging tail, licking tongue, and generous heart. Those who can accept the gift are taught that love is all around by one of life's wisest teachers."

They are not God, but they're much closer to God that I will ever hope to be. Despite all their doggie goofiness and strange doggie habits, the main purpose of dogs is to love humans, just like God does.

So the next time you're having a "dark night of the soul," look into the eyes of your dog. You just might see God looking back.