As I rode my bike home after a long day at work, a large dog came bounding toward me from its yard. Being a dog lover, I was not frightened. I continued to pedal on my way, but the dog was running at my side and barking incessantly. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my right thigh. The dog had bitten me, and tears welled up in my eyes. It hurt, and I didn’t do anything to deserve being bit.
This was my first experience being bitten by a dog. As someone who loves dogs and finds comfort in their company, it was completely unexpected. Many times the dogs out-number the humans at my house. So I couldn’t have even anticipated the bite. It came out of nowhere, and I was shocked.
Reflecting on this incident brought to mind another unexpected bite. It came from one that I considered a friend, someone to whom I had offered kindness and support. Yet, while running side by side, I unexpectedly felt the sharp pain of being talked about negatively and a different story being portrayed to others than was shown to me. It hurt, and I couldn’t think of anything I’d done to deserve the unkindness. I was shocked to find out that what I thought was a reciprocal relationship was clearly not. Based on my experience, I couldn’t have anticipated the entirely different reality that was revealed.
Whether it’s a literal dog bite on a bike ride home, the sting of betrayal from someone I considered a friend, or the shock of an unexpected experience I didn’t see coming, these moments can shake me to my core. They have left me reeling, questioning why and how such hurt could come my way. Yet, they teach me to guard my hearts and to temper my idealistic expectations with a dose of reality.
And while the sting of these bites may linger, they also remind me of my own capacity for compassion and forgiveness, even in the face of hurt. So, as I pedal on from that unexpected encounter, I am ever mindful of the potential for both unexpected bites and the resilience to heal that is possible.
luv this.. hit my heart