The winner of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California has been crowned. Believe it or not, this picture is not the winner. This is Miss Ellie. Miss Ellie is a blind 15-year-old Chinese Crested Hairless and she won the pedigree category but did not take first in the overall competition. Kind of pathetic to be this ugly and not win. Miss Ellie drew the short straw in looks, health, and in beauty. I can't help but wonder what made the owner of Miss Ellie choose her. Was she purchased from a crooked breeder or was she a pound puppy? What made this dog lover choose to adopt this blind, disfigured, homely dog? Agathe Christie, once said, "It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them." I think her obersvation must apply to dogs too. I think that must be why God loves me so much too. I must be so homely and pathetic that He just can't help but love me! :0) My eyes are bad, my skin is aging, I can retain water and be dehydrated at the very same time, and I'm getting clumsier every day. Maybe that's why I like that Francesca Battistelli song so much Free to Be Me. The chorus says, "I got a couple dents in my fender. Got a couple rips in my jeans. Try to fit the pieces together but perfection is my enemy. And on my own I'm so clumsy but on Your shoulders I can see I'm free to be me." So here's to all the Miss Ellies in the world - Smile for the camera! Stand up and be beautiful in your own skin. Be who God made you to be because no matter how pathetic you think you are, to Him, you win first prize!
2 comments:
I'm a Miss Ellie. Thanks, Wendi.
I adopted a Lhaso Apso from a puppy mill (Marcus) because I fell in love with the fact that his tongue stuck out the side of his mouth, just like Miss Ellie. Marcus limped a little when he walked too. I just thought he was so cute & charming! A lovable little fella to say the least, but I just couldn't handle him. I found out dogs that come from puppy mills LIVE their entire life in cages except for when they are brought out to breed, so many try to gnaw through the wire cage to escape. And because they are on wire all the time, they often have a hard time walking on solid surfaces and the pads of their paws are very tender. He didn't like having his paws touched one bit, and would try to nip at me if I did. But in all his "ugliness", I saw something so special and beautiful about him. I knew there was a sweet little soul in that dog that needed a lot of care and love. Much like each of us...I appreciate the analogy - it's so "spot on". It just hits home a lot more for me since I had an "ugly pup" for a while, who had a dark, scarred and difficult past to reconcile. I understand how much it takes to nurture such a creature back to health, in every way. I wasn't able to, nor did I have the patience needed. It's a big job, but not for our God!
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