Every week, a very important meeting is held in our backyard. No humans are invited.
Mom thinks she’s in charge because she opens the gate and fills the water bowls, but once Summer arrives, Summer and Bear take over managing the Playgroup.
They have rules:
Rule Number One: Every yellow rubber ball belongs to whoever gets there first.
Rule Number Two: If you already have one yellow rubber ball but discover another one nearby, it is your responsibility to determine whether two are better than one.
Rule Number Three: If your best friend has the ball, you should walk closely behind, not because you intend to steal it, but because every good friend should carefully supervise the game.
At least that’s what Bear says.
Today’s meeting began with Summer proudly carrying one of the bright yellow rubber balls across the lawn. Bear walked beside her with that happy smile that always seems to say, “This is the best day ever.” He wasn’t trying to take the ball away. He simply wanted to be part of whatever adventure Summer had planned next.
Another yellow rubber ball rested quietly in the grass just ahead of them. Neither of them seemed to pay much attention to it. Or perhaps they both noticed it and silently agreed that the real prize wasn’t the ball at all.
Sometimes the best part of the game is simply sharing it with your best friend.
Years ago, Teddy taught us an important lesson. Tennis balls looked like fun, but he loved pulling off the fuzzy covering and occasionally swallowing it. Bear and Summer sometimes decided to copy his bad habit, so we retired the tennis balls and replaced them with these sturdy yellow rubber balls instead. They have proven to be wonderfully dog-proof, allowing everyone to play safely while still enjoying the games they love.
Watching Bear and Summer reminds me how different dogs are from us. They don’t keep score. They don’t worry about yesterday or tomorrow. They don’t argue over who won the last game. They simply enjoy being together.
Summer doesn’t have to impress Bear. Bear doesn’t have to impress Summer. They walk together. They run together. They investigate every interesting smell together. And then they do it all over again.
There is something wonderfully simple about that.
As I watched Bear walking beside Summer today, another thought quietly found its way into my heart. A few months ago, I was worried because he seemed so thin. We celebrated every pound he gained and adjusted his meals until he reached a healthier weight. Looking at him now, I see a dog who still has all the speed, enthusiasm, and athleticism he always has, but he also looks stronger and sturdier. He looks healthy. As his mom, there are few sights more comforting than watching your sweet boy looking happy, confident, and thriving.
Perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts our dogs give us. They remind us that friendship isn’t measured by who has the most toys, who runs the fastest, or who wins the game. It is measured by the joy of simply being together.
Watching today’s Playgroup meeting, I couldn’t help but smile. Bear and Summer seem to have life figured out.
And maybe, if we’re paying attention, they’re teaching the rest of us the rules too.
