Worthy

We're getting dogs. Big wonderful dogs... The reason I bring this up (other than the fact that I'm really, really excited about it) is that I can't get them until I finish building our fence. I've been building this fence for a week now, and it's almost done but it's killing me. It really makes the back yard look a lot better than I expected it to and the construction quality is something that I can be proud of. But it's taken me a week! A solid week of work! This experience has shown me something.
When I was young, my parents tried to teach me the value of a dollar. I still don't know the value of a dollar, but what I'm learning is the value of my work. I so value having a dog that I sit here with cuts, bruises, blisters, and every muscle in my body is sore... I've experienced so much pain and discomfort over this fence... I've woken up before sunrise to work on it. I've been eaten alive by mosquitoes working on it after dark. And for what? For dependent animals that will require training and feeding and cleaning and chasing and constant attention. I'm feeling a little closer to God right now.
My life is only a shallow reflection (if that) of the Divine, but every now and then I reach a point when I feel like I understand the nature of God a little better... Working, giving, hurting, bleeding, all for little critters that don't even know I exist.