The Truth About Inconvenience

Yesterday when I was talking with Phyllis Allison of Sunflower Hill Rescue, we were discussing people who relinquish, surrender, or abandon their pets using poor excuses  (note the definition of excuse:  The skin of a reason stuffed with lies) such as "we're moving", "they're old", and anything else that is a far cry from, "It's a choice between feeding our children and feeding our cat."

St. Phyllis observed, "People do not want to be inconvenienced. But the things that bring us the greatest rewards in life are not convenient."

It's hard to elaborate on that wisdom, but I will mention:

• Your funny, charming, pride-producing child is not one bit convenient.
• Cleaning the kitty litter box of the purring creature that keeps your feet and lap warm in winter is not convenient.
• Your True Love (if you have been lucky enough to find him/her) makes you tingle, makes you laugh, makes your heart sing, makes life worthwhile. He or she is, nevertheless, NOT convenient.
• As a personal example, my MWF swim class has built character, brought me immense personal gratification, and at the age of 58 given me muscle definition in formerly shapeless arms and shoulders. But it is not even close to convenient to get up at dark-thirty and be at the pool to put in 2500+ yards from 5:45-7:00 am three days/week.

Really, I defy you to think of anything that has been hugely meaningful in your entire life that came with no cost--that, in a word, was "convenient".

 Let me repeat Phyllis' words:   "The things that bring us the greatest rewards in life are not convenient."

Step up to the plate, folks, and take care of your pets--like marriage vows--in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. Then open your arms to the vast rewards.