My Journey with God

He gave me a gift

When I was very young, I loved animals but I was scared of them and I didn't know why. Every time I saw puppies or kittens for sale I got really excited and wanted to pet them and hold them but was too nervous to do so. As for the larger animals like fully grown dogs or cats, I was terrified. Whenever there was a big dog or cat in the room, I'd either ask my parents to hold me or ask the owners to put the animals in a separate room. I didn't hate animals I was just scared that they would hurt me I guess. I once got chased by a chicken and literally jumped into my dads arms crying. This went on until I turned nine years old. My dad and I were coming home from somewhere when I asked him what we were doing for my birthday. I don't remember what he said but when we got home I went to my room and saw my mom and my brother Pj sitting on my bed with a basset hound puppy. I was so excited to see a cute puppy on my bed but I knew we wouldn't keep him for long because of my fear. My mom told me that basset hounds are pretty chill dogs who don't get very big and hardly do anything. I slowly worked my way around my fear and eventually got over it. We named the puppy Elvis and he became my best friend, he was like my furry guardian angel. After a few months, I finally got over my fear and every time I saw an animal, I had to pet it and love in it. I then began to notice that animals really liked me. One year, my family and I went to a lake for the summer and a squirrel wouldn't stop following me around. I later began feeding the squirrel and she got comfortable being around to the point where she ,a wild squirrel, would sit on my shoulder and eat out of my hand without even biting me once. A few years later, Elvis died and I lost my best friend but my parents later got me and my brother two new dogs, Tucker and Sandy. I love them so much and I play with them all the time. One day, I was walking up my driveway from getting the mail and I saw a fox in my neighbors yard. I thought maybe I could be friends with it and started calling it over and it came. Later after my sophomore year of high school, my mom introduced me to a camp where I got to hang out and interact with animals. I went to the camp and one day we got to hang out with a wallaby. It was really hot that day and the wallaby didn't want to come out of her hut, so the trainer told everyone to come up to her and pet her from inside the hut. It was finally my turn and then something amazing happened. I called the wallaby and told her to come out, that it was ok, and she did. My eyes went wide as she crawled out and let me pet her. I looked back at the trainer and my fellow camper and their jaws dropped. I then got a job at a dog camp where I had to take care the most cautious and grumpy dog, Abe. He hated everyone and would bark and growl at people who came near him. It was my turn to take care him and had to feed him. I got into his cage and crouched to his height and told him that it was ok that I didn't mean any harm and for some reason, he cautious but calm. I later had to let him out to go to the bathroom and that I was so exhausted that sat down while he ran around closed my eyes. When I opened them back up, Abe was standing right in front of me with his tongue out and tail wagging happily. I carefully reached out to pet and he jumped on me and started licking my face. I called my coworker Mandy out and she couldn't believe what she saw. I then realized something incredible. I had a gift. I had a special connection with animals. It was a gift sent by God and it's a gift I will cherish forever.