Paws To Reflect

Sometimes human communication falls short in conveying spiritual truth. God speaks through whatever means He chooses and often he chooses animals. Dogs teach unconditional love. The purr of a kitten can bring peace. Horses show us how to harness our strength with grace. Paws to Reflect offers gentle daily reflections for those who seek to grow spiritually by observing the animal kingdom and all the lessons it teaches.

Through interviews and original contributions from published gay authors, Paws and Reflect explores and celebrates the special and powerful bond between a gay man and his dog. Over 25 stories of personal experience, this well-crafted collection is a touching, powerful and, at times, hilarious ode to this most special of bonds. A must-read for dog-lovers of all gender orientations.

Shortly after my dog, Maggie, passed way, I decided to stop writing her monthly blog, Thoughts from Maggie. So many family members and friends sent emails asking me not to stop her blog. The responses ranged from "I look forward to her blogs the first of every month," to "She has so much to say." They convinced me to continue writing Maggie's blog. While writing, I was reminded of everything she taught me -- while never saying a word. Writing the blog posts became a time of reflection for me and provided an inner calmness. Soon, people shared how Maggie's thoughts also gave them a feeling of calmness or reflection. After receiving this feedback from Maggie's readers, I decided to gather a collection of her blog posts and create a reflection journal. I hope you find Maggie's thoughts as interesting and reflecting as her blog followers do. And yeah -- she's darn cute too This book is dedicated to Maggie -- my buddy. See you some day at the Rainbow Bridge.

Dogs have always been our friends and changed our lives for the better. But they may save our lives as well. Seamlessly weaving scientific research with compelling narrative, Paws & Effect tells incredibly moving stories of beloved pets who have supported their people through periods of ill health and other crises—with miraculous results: *Little Ben, a Chihuahua who can sense impending epileptic seizures *Abdul, a Golden Retriever/Lab mix, who was the world’s first service dog and helped his owner by retrieving keys and phones, medicine from countertops, water from the refrigerator, and could even hand in credit cards at the grocery store *A Dalmation named Trudii, whose obsessive behavior prompted her owner to seek a medical examination that revealed melanoma

This collection of twenty-five original stories of personal experience, Neil Plakcy and Sharon Sakson celebrate the joy, growth, and healing offered to all of us by the dogs in our lives. Touching, powerful, and often humorous, this collection explores and celebrates the special bond between gay men and their dogs.

Hi, I'm Roxie. A dog. The short stories in this book share life as I see it from my paws and through my eyes. Hopefully, my observations will help you on your journey. The biggest lesson I have learned is this: We all must learn to move beyond the biscuit-beyond immediate gratification-and discover the clues, lessons, and opportunities that surround us. To do that, though, we must pay attention. I focus on where I am. The smells in front or to the side of me or the cool beach sand beneath my body. If a cat is nearby, I want to go up and get to know it. Of course, they ignore me. That's another story. Every time I smell, stare at, or paw something, there is a reason. In part, this book will allow you to pause and reflect on your present moments. I hope my simple stories and insights will motivate you to ask deeper questions about your stories and to reflect on the who, what, why, and where of your purpose. My person, Steve, and I found each other for a greater reason than giving me a place to sleep and eat. You will learn that as the relationship I have with Steve continues to develop so does our purpose. It continues to evolve as I believe it does for all of us-canines and humans.I am a work in progress. And so is Steve. And so are you. I offer a hearty "Woof!" to all of us as we slow down, move beyond the biscuit, and embrace the wonders life has to offer.

See the world through Weaver's bright eyes, With each new day valuable lessons arise. Life is funny and can change in a blink, So always remember to PAWS and THINK! Today Weaver digs up a lesson on BEING THANKFUL.