Puppy Hugs from Heaven

Wanting a personal connection with Jesus, Lilia Grundy prays to get close and hold HIM: her prayers are answered in an unexpected way.

Puppies and Hair 

I joined my mother last month at the salon as she was refreshing her hair color for her 50th anniversary celebration. I glanced over to see another client getting her hair washed and saw in her arms what appeared to be a baby wrapped in a soft pink blanket. I heard some tiny yelps coming from her direction and deduced it was more likely a puppy. 

I commented to our hair stylist, “Is she holding a puppy?”

She nodded in reply with a grin. 

Now, anyone who knows me knows I adore puppies. In fact, I often say, “I will know I’ve made it to heaven if I’m sitting with Jesus surrounded by cuddly puppies!” 

It’s always a special treat when I even get to just get a glance, in my opinion, of the cutest animal. This was an especially busy week for me: work deadlines piling up and securing the final details for my parents’ big celebration.  

So, the sweetest surprise in the middle of the day’s hustle and bustle came when the client carrying her puppy asked if I wanted to hold her.  

Without hesitation, I began walking over to scoop up the miniature dachshund from her arms. As I soaked in the bliss from being able to possess this sweet thing, in that moment, it did feel like heaven. 

Puppies and Hotels 

Just a week after my hair salon heaven experience, I was attending a work event held at a beautiful downtown hotel. Lo and behold, puppies were available to hold as soon as I entered to register for the luncheon! No kidding: the local humane society was present to showcase their nonprofit’s opportunity to adopt animals. 

Yet again I was asked, “Would you like to hold one?”  

I quickly approached the kenneled area where the puppies were being contained and the lady at the exhibiting table handed me the most precious, cream-colored puppy to hold. Again, in heaven!  

After these back-to-back episodes, I couldn’t help but realize that I was being blessed with answered prayers. 

Puppies and Heaven 

The recent feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle (July 3), particularly struck me this year as Father’s words during his homily lingered beyond Mass: 

“Thomas wanted a personal encounter with Jesus.” 

I do too, I thought. I want a personal encounter. I tried to validate in my mind that I had been given so many gifts throughout my life and I should be grateful. But I kept coming back to the scene, 

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” (John 20:27) 

This visual had me reflecting during my weekly Adoration visit. I told our Heavenly Father that I so longed to touch and hold him too. But I was reminded that distractions keep me too busy to notice that HE is with me and sends signal graces all the time.  

Because “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 1:27) I know that holding my children, hugging them and my husband, is like holding a piece of Him.  

As my parish friends say, “There are no such things as coincidences, only GOD-incidences!”  And so, I realized that my prayers were being answered by puppy hugs sent from heaven.  

I’m now playing a new game with my daughters: seeking to find at least five beautiful things that we see and encounter each day. When we pay attention, we realize how many signs we do receive.  

What signs from heaven have you received?  

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Copyright 2024 Lilia Grundy
Images: (center) copyright 2024 Lilia Grundy, all rights reserved; all others Canva