Gamora’s Birthday

Little Gamora turns two tomorrow (6.12.2024). Right now as I write this, she’s sulking! I’ve made her a little birthday cake with minced beef and a topping of sweet potatoes and she was drooling as I made it. Much to her disappointment, it went into the fridge not into her bowl. Mind you, she’d just eaten! It’s amusing to watch her fall asleep as she dozes off midway sulking. When I go close to cuddle her, her tongue pops out to give kisses. It’s really cute. 

Tomorrow my aunts, an uncle, and a couple of my cousins are coming by for lunch. I’ve decided to celebrate Gamora’s birthday. Gamora’s going to have a good day, if all goes to plan. I’ve taken the day off. I hope we can go for a morning walk. Then when we get home, I’m going to get food from the Chinese restaurant nearby. It’s yummy! Gamora can eat her cake! 

Gamora’s even getting presents! I cannot believe that family and friends are getting her things. Tennis balls are always in high demand – she loves them. My aunt has made sure her supply continues! My little brat is so spoilt.

All this fuss and she doesn’t really understand. How could she? She’s a pup! She knows to eat what’s put in front of her and to enjoy her walks and toys and to round it all up with long snoozes. Hey, it’s a dog’s life! I’m not even close to thinking of her as human. I wouldn’t do that. There’s a beauty about her as a pup, created by the same God who made me, and who made sure she came to me. What a blessing she has been. 

This little creature cannot take the place that my dad left. That space in my home is empty. She adored him and made her feelings known when he passed. Gamora never met my mum. She’d not be so spoilt if she had! Eighteen years down the line, the space in my home which my mum used to fill remains empty. Gamora cannot take this place. My heart is full of sadness from losing my dad and I still deal with pangs of sorrow when I miss my mum. Gamora doesn’t change any of this. 

What Gamora does, and this is why I feel she’s such a blessing, is she makes me laugh. I burst out laughing at her silly expressions and actions. She is a scream. It’s such a joy watching her hunt. There is worry because sometimes what she hunts can be dangerous. I don’t ever want her entangled with snakes, monkeys, or monitor lizards! Personally I wish she would stop hunting because I so hate the clean up, but it’s funny watching her practice her runs, camouflage herself among the plants (she’s small enough!), or practice trying to scale the wall. I love her energy. Then there is walking her. The park is a place of joy for this little one, and it is a place I have come to love because of her! She’s delighted by the sounds, enraptured by the smells, and the pursuit of the trail ahead gives her endless joy. There are bonuses on days when there are friendly doggies around and she’s in heaven when people interact with her. She loves the hellos, the belly rubs and even manages to pose for some photos. At home, I love watching her play with her toys. Her collection of tennis balls and soft chew toys grow as friends and family bring her things. She enjoys every bit of her playthings. It never ceases to amaze me how she almost always manages to get her squeaky toys squeaking at full blast whenever I’m on a work call. The timing is hilarious! I even love watching her sleep. She sleeps in the oddest positions with her legs sticking up in the air. It’s terribly endearing! 

This is the blessing – she is making me feel a range of emotions even in my home that feels terribly vacant without my dad or mum in it. It’s not that she’s filling a gap or taking their place. She couldn’t do that- she wasn’t designed to. What she was designed to do was to be a loyal and faithful companion and she does that so beautifully. It warms my heart, which feels cold when I consider the loss of my parents. It makes my home a place of laughter- even when it’s just the two of us. There’s a joy in my heart because of this little tubby creature with her lolling tongue ever ready to lick, and with a zest for life. 

I’m celebrating her birthday because I can. I don’t think I can handle Christmas celebrations at the moment. Easter feels painful too. My birthday is another one. I just cannot handle all that. They were special times with my parents- and I cannot even begin to imagine a celebration of the festivities without them. My grief doesn’t know how. So I’m thankful that God has given me little things that I can be thankful for. He has given me walks in the park, flowers that are blooming in my garden, friends and family to chat to, and this little four-legged creature that brings me so much joy despite all the sadness I feel.

It makes me feel that God sees me. It makes me feel that He understands. He gets me. So I thank God for little Gamora! Happy Birthday, my pet. You’re my little ‘hantu’ and I love you so very much! I cannot wait to celebrate you because it’s something I can do for now. Thank You, God, for Gamora. 

Psalm 24:1

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein…