You Are Beloved
Your Loving Presence Is What Matters Most
Each of us is a Beloved Child of God, not because of what we do but simply because we are. We are human beings, not human doings. I believe that not only are all of us human beings beloved but so are our animal friends.
Two weeks ago, we lost our precious Goldendoodle Rosie on Good Friday unexpectedly. Good Friday is also the day we adopted her in 2019 when she was a ten-and-a-half-week-old puppy, and we refer to her as our angel dog. She was full of unconditional love, positive energy, and good mischief, grabbing our socks or almost anything she could find when she wasn’t getting the attention she needed. What Rosie valued most was simply being with us, especially when all our family was home together. She loved belly rubs, playing fetch as we tossed her alligator toy, snuggling with us, and laying at our feet as we worked from home. She was always present in the moment and taught me so much of the importance of being a loving presence to family members and all around us now. God bless Rosie and all of us and thank you for all people and creatures that remind us of our belovedness just as we are. May each of you know in the depths of your heart that you are beloved!
Below are the lyrics and a video of me playing a song I wrote. One of the last lines of the song is a line about watching the stars with Rosie, one of her many ways of being with me.
The First Love
Take me back to the first love
Where I was loved just the way I was
I knew then that I belonged
And the voice I heard was a sweet song
Take me back to the first love
That blesses us from above
A voice that still calls out to us
And says you are beloved
A phone call from a friend
Just wanting to check in
A warm tone from back in time
A belly laugh that gets you crying
Take me back to the first love
That blesses us from above
A voice that still calls out to us
And says you are beloved
First crocus in the spring
Listen to the dove sing
A smile on a morning walk
Sometimes you don’t need to talk
Take me back to the first love
That blesses us from above
A voice that still calls out to us
And says you are beloved
This love is all around don’t you see
Unbounded and free
A tender word from my love
My growing daughter’s sudden hug
Watching stars with my dog at night
Waking up to the morning light
Take me back to the first love
That blesses us from above
A voice that still calls out to us
And says you are beloved
J. Blair Pettyjohn
Nov. 12, 2021
So beautifully imagined and true, I think, the way we’re all interconnected and loved by the divine. I’m very sorry for the loss of your beloved dog.