A Friend Loves at All Times

We all go through hard times. It’s an undeniable part of life. I’ve mentioned in my previous blog posts that even though the things I have gone through might not seem "as bad" as what others have experienced, pain is still pain—and through the worst moments, I’ve had a dog right by my side.

The design I’m sharing today is incredibly special. In fact, this specific image is one of the very designs that started Paws and Praise Apparel Co. in the first place. It was born out of watching a beautiful, quiet bond unfold in my own family.

Years ago, my niece Taylor got her dog, Denali, when he was just a tiny puppy. Over the years, Denali has definitely been by her side through some deeply trying times. If you ever see them together, it takes about two seconds to realize that Taylor is Denali’s absolute person. He completely depends on her, and he rarely leaves her side.

But it’s a two-way street. Taylor depends on Denali just as much. They truly need each other.

Watching their relationship get stronger through every storm got me thinking deeply about how much our dogs love us. It brought me straight to the scripture: "A friend loves at all times." Dogs like Denali love us with a pure, unconditional love that this world rarely offers. Think about it: no matter the meltdown, no matter the angry blow-up or the tears, they are just there. They don't judge us, they don't walk away, and they don't hold grudges. They are constantly ready for us to cry on, or ready to jump up and celebrate with us. On the hardest days, when getting out of bed feels impossible, they are sometimes the sole reason we keep moving forward.

To me, our dogs are a living, breathing reflection of the love of Jesus.

He loves us through it all. No matter what we have done, how bad we think we are, or how broken and utterly unworthy we feel, He loves us. He doesn't look at our mistakes or our messy days and turn away. He sees us like no other creature or person can. He sees exactly what He made us to be. He sees the ones He died to save.

Jesus is truly our ultimate Best Friend, and He loves at all times. No matter what you are walking through today, you are not walking through it alone.