Brilliant sunshine. Blue skies adorned with a few wispy clouds. A carpet of green grass. Mild temperature typical of a late spring afternoon.

The day appeared perfect in every way, and for that they were all so grateful.

They spread the quilt beneath the backyard shade tree and invited her to join them there. She moved among them for a while, welcoming their tender pets. Then she moved to the grass where she sat and eventually lay on the grass beside her “grandpa” to receive more gentle stroking.

This black lab named Josie, now more than 14 years and 7 months old, seemed to know what it was all about. She was surrounded by her human family, those with whom she’d shared the deepest bonds of love and devotion. She received their attention contentedly. She even managed a sort of smile for them, a more subtle version of the wide teeth-baring grins that had been so typical of her earlier years.

Eager to please

Josie was our son’s dog. He’d gotten her when she was just five weeks old. Always eager to please her people, she’d tried to be a good dog. And she was—the best. She’d been an easygoing pet, flexible and willing to go anywhere.

She lived her life with gusto. She loved walks in nature. She loved snuggles, and she loved to play. She loved other dogs. And, she enjoyed exploring and getting into mischief with them whenever given the opportunity. She loved people and the food they ate.

In fact, maybe more than anything else, she loved eating—period. Once as a small puppy, she’d managed to get into her dog food. Somehow she had ended up head first in the 2-foot-tall container. Her hind legs hung over the top as she attempted to eat her way to the bottom.

Josie had always been healthy, so when she suddenly started to decline, her loved ones tried desperately to keep her going. It was hard to imagine this dog not wanting to eat. They switched up her food, trying rice and chicken, rice and hamburger, scrambled eggs, and various wet dog foods. Friends stopped by and tried to entice her with burgers, fries, and even ice cream.

They begged silently, “Just eat, please!”

Knowing it’s time

Her weight dropped significantly. Tests indicated abnormal levels of liver enzymes. Then kidney function issues appeared.

And then the day came when our son realized she was too tired to try any more. He said he felt she was letting him know it was time.

He called the vet and scheduled the appointment.

Late in the afternoon on that gorgeous day, we gathered up the quilt. We loved on her one last time and said our goodbyes. And then our son gently placed her in the car and took her to end her suffering.

Josie was a dog, not a human being.

Still, her family and friends mourned her passing. Her life mattered, and her passing left a huge void in their hearts.

Just by being herself she had made the world a better place. Like so many of her kind, she was a humble creature who loved unconditionally. She trusted others, and she served up joy on a regular basis to those she encountered.

Love, trust, and joy

That was it. No fancy pedigree or impressive list of mastered dog tricks. Just those three things—love, trust, and joy.

What great lessons for living she taught us all—if we will only remember, follow her example, and offer up those same three gifts.