Day 1053

Miss Lilly had a veterinarian appointment this afternoon at the University of Minnesota Small Animal Hospital. Although never her favorite place, as soon as we were ushered to a room, she snuggled into my feet and took a nap. When the team came in, she wagged her tail, rolled over for a belly rub and even licked a few hands. However, she never lost physical contact with her Mama. Her trust in me was very humbling.

Trust is a wonderful thing, but it comes with a huge price tag. If someone trusts you, the responsibility to ensure that you are worthy is huge! Once you have built the base, and placed layers of bricks on top, you can’t let that special person (or pup) down. If that happens, there is a weak spot in the foundation that leaves you on shaky ground. For Lilly, her trust in me runs deep. I take this gift very seriously.

I tend to trust others to a fault. Even when dependability becomes questionable, I offer many chances to make amends. Though friendships typically remain intact, there are those who have demonstrated the potential to let others down. A broken promise here, a secret shared with others there and I finally see the light. Although the friendships remain, the trust is gone.

I work hard at keeping my part of the bargain in a trusting relationship. You can’t let your guard down or take the commitment for granted. Honesty, empathy and diligence are required. It’s worth the effort!

Lilly did fine with her care team. Although there were new faces, she knew her Mama was close by and her trust in me helped immensely. Even her healthy blood pressure bore witness to that!