Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell The Loved Toy Bear Almost a year ago we brought home our new black lab puppy. Hopefully to keep her entertained and divert her attention from other things in the house we purchased her a very non-descript cheap stuffed bear-like animal. I tied a couple of long shoestrings to it to make it more interesting so she could fling it about by holding the strings. It is sort of like the velveteen rabbit in that it has no legs or arms or even much of a face. But it is loved. After a year of literal mayhem and daily attention that toy still lives. It has provided hundreds of hours of romps through the house and even the yard. Last evening it was retrieved a couple of dozen times during the football game. It would be carefully placed on my lap waiting for it to be tossed. What fascinates us about this toy is it is not a particularly tough item. It could be destroyed in less than a minute should she so choose. I have seen her take shoes and literally rip them to pieces with little effort. Yet this worn now delicate treasure is carried about the house with never a thought to ripping it open and tearing out the stuffing. As I write this morning she is sitting by the window watching it snow holding her bear in her mouth as if to show the bear the falling white stuff. At this point I usually try to draw some spiritual lesson. I am not sure it I can do that without straining the point. Maybe we could speak of affection and care and friendship. If there is any lesson here I think I will refrain and let you draw one. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is hrb1@tiac.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives