Tracy Hays Dog Gone It

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My wife, Elaine, originally thought a puppy would be good therapy for me in the midst of my ongoing recovery from the traumatic brain injury I suffered several months earlier. But the reality was that she wanted to add a new member to our household, but didn't recognize it the time she initiated the idea of getting a puppy. Her saying it was for my benefit ended up being somewhat of a smokescreen. After clearing up the rationale for getting a puppy, I discovered several personal benefits once we got Sophie (our dog's name), including getting to own such a cool and precious dog as well as having a ready and willing runner partner anytime I went for a run. But the most important and biggest value has been what Sophie has shown me about God. In chapter one, I write, "As the months rolled on, I noticed how many times I thought of God as I watched the relationship between Sophie and Elaine. Sometimes it was seeing Sophie's personality. Other times it was observing how Elaine dealt with her. Occasionally, it had to do with the puppy's actions. But ultimately, I saw visual demonstrations of spiritual truths."