Good morning, digital neighbors! Happy Thursday, my friends! Here’s a good reflection on why we are so blessed to have dogs in our lives. Cats are a blessing and a joy too—I’m thankful for Holly & Ivy—but Rylee is the ambassador of goodwill in the parish, and before her it was Jackson. Have a blessed day, my friends!

IF YOU CAN

If you can start the
day without caffeine,

If you can get going
without pep pills,

If you can resist complaining
and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day
and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones
are too busy to give you any time,

If you can overlook it when something
goes wrong through no fault of yours
and those you love take it out on you,

If you can take criticism
and blame without resentment,

If you can ignore a friend’s limited education
and never correct him,

If you can resist treating a rich friend
better than a poor friend,

If you can face the world
without lies and deceit,

If you can conquer tension
without medical help,

If you can relax
without liquor,

If you can sleep
without the aid of drugs,

If you can honestly say
that deep in your heart
you have no prejudice
against creed, color, religion, or politics,

Then, my friends,
you are almost as good
as your dog.

AUTHOR UNKNOWN