Plymouth Magazine-Summer24-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 20
Plymouth’s Pet Blessing
By Jackie Seymour
This year I celebrate my 25th year as a
member of Plymouth Congregational
Church. I have to admit it is one of my
longest and most cherished relationships
where I have experienced many highs and
lows. One of my favorite things about
Plymouth is the Saturday Night service,
especially the sense of community we build
through weekly discussions at our tables
with fellow members. We check in with
each other and lately have been focusing
our comments around a specific question.
Last week, our question was “Where
do you see God in your daily life?” My
answer: in my dog’s eyes.
Animals have always played an integral
role in my life from a very young age.
My parents both grew up with many
furry friends and they readily supported
my requests for a wide variety of pets
including goldfish, hamsters, gerbils,
numerous dogs and cats and a quarter
horse. Not to mention the large number
of injured or abandoned wildlife I would
bring home to rehabilitate. I grew up on
an acreage in the countryside just outside
of Sioux City and over the years, people
would often dump unwanted animals near
our home, many of which found their way
into both our family and our hearts.
I have so many fond memories of our
pets over the years but my best friend and
constant companion while I was growing
up was a little Boston Terrier named Susie.
There weren’t any kids my age around our
area and my older sister didn’t enjoy having
her kid sister tag along all the time so I was
on my own a lot. My maternal grandparents,
who had several Boston Terriers over the
years, found Susie and I always claimed she
was the very best gift they ever gave me! I
was six when Susie arrived and virtually every
picture from my childhood and teenage
years has her in it. She was my confidant,
my friend, my fellow adventurer and my
rock. Nothing could make a terrible day at
school disappear faster than seeing Susie’s
face in the car window at the pickup line.
Susie may have been the runt of her litter
but she had the biggest heart I have ever
known. I now knew my life would always
have to include animals no matter what.
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Once I was a college graduate and out in
the world, I was desperate to find a furry
family member all my own. My mom
happened to catch a radio ad for the local
animal control stating they had a cute
little party coat (mostly white) Boston
Terrier male that only had one day left
before he was to be put down. It was
my birthday so I saw this as a sign and
immediately drove over to the shelter to
meet him. He had been running around
loose for weeks in torrential spring
rainstorms so his fur was all matted and
crusty, he had a horrible runny nose and
was very skinny but he ran right up to
me and wouldn’t leave my side during
the whole visit. I was smitten and Jack
became my first adopted furry child and
my family.
I have fallen in love with Boston Terriers
including their very loud snoring,
zoomies, crazy antics, flatulence (a
common issue with flat faced dogs),
hogging of the bed and most of all their
loyalty and devotion. In addition to Jack,
I have had the great privilege of being a
dog mom to Sammy, Belle, Tucker and
Stella. Each animal in my life has given
me so many wonderful gifts but they have
also taught me very important lessons as
well. Which gets me back to that original
statement of finding God in my dog’s eyes.
We all know what dog spelled backwards
is and I personally don’t think that is a
coincidence. I also believe all animals
share the qualities and traits I am about
to discuss, but companion animals such
as dogs tend to have them in spades. I
personally relate God to unconditional
love, acceptance, understanding,
patience, fully living in the moment
and forgiveness. Animals, and, I would
argue dogs in particular, are excellent
ambassadors for all of these assets.
Animals don’t care about your financial
situation or status, if you are alone or
not, what you look or act like. They
simply accept and love you as you are,
period. Animals can also read a room
and your emotional state better than
anyone. They are always there with an
open ear, willing to share in whatever
you may be experiencing with patience
and understanding. Your furry family
members are beyond thrilled to see you
walk through the door each and every
time without exception because they
live in the moment. Finally, the level of
resilience and forgiveness animals have is
nothing short of amazing. Even the most
horribly abused animal will eventually
find a way to trust and love again given
the support and space to do so. Yes, this is
definitely where I see God.
When our church decided to start
holding an annual Pet Blessing in 2013,
I was thrilled. We had ceremonies
for family members such as baptism,
catechism, weddings, funerals, and
Stepping Stones, but nothing for our
furry family members until now. As
someone who doesn’t have a traditional
family (no kids or spouse), the Pet
Blessing was especially poignant to me
because my family finally had their own
ceremony and it made me feel even
more a part of the church as a whole.
I have to thank former TiM minister
Kit Novotny for conceptualizing and
establishing this ministry at Plymouth
and am pleased to now be assisting in
the planning and management of the Pet
Blessing myself.
I cannot think of a better way to honor
our beloved animal friends past and
present and I hope many in the Plymouth
family will join me on Saturday,
September 28 on the church’s front lawn
for our annual Pet Blessing. Please come
celebrate our wonderful animals and
share in thanking God for bestowing us
with their amazing creation!
About the Author
Jackie Seymour is a 25 year member of Plymouth Church and
lifelong animal lover. She currently is dog mom to two Boston
Terriers, Tucker and Stella.
