No thanks necessary!

The dream is always the same.

I walk into the kitchen and find Speedy (our big dog) cooking a meal next to Emeril. "Bam!" I hear Emeril say. "Bark!", replies Speedy. What they're preparing looks suspiciously like Gravy Train, but actually smells pretty good. I hear a feminine, delicate "Arf!" behind me and I turn to see Nina (our smaller dog) setting the table.

What follows next is my amazed gazing at a group of hounds and pups gorging themselves on a feast that they've helped prepare. After dinner, a few of them sit around the table and play poker. I take a picture of them. It becomes a huge seller and I become a millionaire. Then I wake up.


It's not a bad dream. But it's not reality.

My reality is as follows: I wake up and stumble blindly into the kitchen. Before I can start the coffee I scoop out some food into the dog dish and give the 'camels' some fresh water. Otherwise, it feels as if I am taking my life into my own hands as I'm surrounded by a pack of wolves!

For some reason, I seem to be the only one in our house that's certifiable....er...certified to feed and water the pets. For some reason, I have to tell the two-legged creatures living with me to do this simple thing. I think that my family believes that 'feeding the dogs' somehow falls under "Mom's Job Description". Listen to me. Just because I taught Speedy to speak doesn't mean I taught him to pour water. I say this over again and again. Speedy is the only one that answers back.

It can be very frustrating, can't it? The feeling of "I am the only one that has to do this!" Each morning I will selfishly think, "If I don't feed those dogs...no one will!" And then the ugliness occurs. I start thinking about ALL THE THINGS I DO for everyone else...and how NO ONE does anything for me!!

It's a lie. I should know better. You should too! Let's face it...we all feel that way once in a while. However, it takes some of us a longer time to stop feeling that way.

Here's something that helps: Do something for someone else without expecting a thank you.

"But Carrie!" I hear you protest, "That's EXACTLY what happens! I do things for others all the time and don't get thanked! How will that be helpful!?"

The problem isn't the lack of thanks. The problem is the expectation of thanks. What's motivating you to do things?

Sometimes I struggle with doing things for others so that they will do things for me. And that's NOT EXACTLY what we're supposed to do.

We're supposed to treat folks the way we'd like to be treated.

My friends, I encourage you to do one selfless thing this week for someone else. Here's an idea: Feed the dogs without being asked to feed them!

If you've taught them to speak, you just might get an unexpected Scooby Doo-ish "Rank Roo" in return!!