Dog is my copilot

Yesterday I was in a hurry, running late, just needed two items at the grocery store. I rush into the old building with its narrow aisles and am immediately blocked by a very fat, slow, shuffling man.

I danced in place behind him, fuming, anxious, checking the clock above our heads. Finally there was room to squeeze around him and as I did so, I glanced at his face. He was not good looking.
For some reason this annoyed me too. I dashed through the store, picked up my items and headed to the checkout line, only to find this same man in front of me. Aaargh. Slowly, slowly, he fingered through his wallet, found his debit card, slowly, slowly he lingered over the little keypad trying to figure it out. He was friendly to the checker, let her help him. But mostly he was huge and slow and in my way, and as I said, not attractive. Why did that bug me so?

But for some reason, my irrational, critical, judgmental brain noticed it and filed it away as "unworthy person blocking my path".

Finally (finally!), he was done, and shuffled out the door. I paid for my items and hurried out the door. As I reached my car I noticed the man opening his car door. Inside his car, a dog waited. A big yellow labrador, its tail wagging furiously, greeted the man as he climbed laboriously into the seat. A big yellow lab, all smiles and love. The man laughed and stroked the dog's head. The dog's mouth opened in a huge grin.

And my heart softened and all the judgment went out of me.

What the dog noticed about the man is this: he is worthy of being loved.