EILEEN ADLER

On a cold wintry morning, an older couple decided to take their dog for a walk. Bundled to the hilt, slogging their heavily booted feet on the path, they left home invigorated. They reached their destination, a beautiful park surrounding a small pond and there they unleashed their dog. Run free!

Maybe remembering the joy of swimming in this pond, their little dog scampered to the edge of pond and found to her delight, that it was frozen. Gingerly walking further, delighted with this new sensation, the worst that could have happened happened – the ice broke and into the frigid water slipped the little dog. She paddled to the ice but as she put her paws upon the edge, the ice cracked under her weight. Witnessing a few unsecsessful attempts, the couple was frantic.

The wife remembered a dog rescue where a group of brave friends formed a human chain to save a pup from drowning, but it was just she and her husband and he couldn’t swim. In she went, boots and all, doggie-paddleing to her beloved dog and then, holding their heads above water, proceded to return to shore, one stroke at a time. Slow going but she was determined.

From the shore she saw her husband jestering but she couldn’t hear him at first, and then she heard his yell, “Stand up!” “Stand up!” “Stand up!” and finally, hearing him, she took heed and lo-and-behold, her soggy boots touched bottom.  

Life Lesson: “Stand up!” Good for us to remember. We may feel like we’re drowning but we must find our resilience and stand up.