Argos the Faithful Friend

 

 

 

It’s National Dog Day. I’m not going to skip the chance to write about one of my favorite things in the world. But this time it’s going to be a bit different. 

 

Names are important. There are whole books dedicated to parents searching for what to name their child. They’ve got meanings, they carry weight, and depending on the life they can be forever inscribed on the annals of history. I spend a long time before naming my dogs. When I named my business, I knew what I was going to call it for years. So, if you’re wondering why the name Argos, the following quotes from Homer’s Odyssey will hopefully clear things up. 

 

 

As soon as he saw Odysseus standing there, he dropped his ears and wagged his tail, but he could not get close up to his master. When Odysseus saw the dog on the other side of the yard, dashed a tear from his eyes without Eumaios seeing it,

 

So saying he entered the well-built mansion and made straight for the riotous pretenders in the hall. But Argos passed into the darkness of death, now that he had fulfilled his destiny of faith and seen his master once more after twenty years.-Homers Odyssey 

 

Ever since I read it Homer’s Odyssey has been one of my favorite books. I love mythology and there is a little of everything in the epic life of Odysseus within the pages. One of my favorite parts of the book is that passage. Most would find it rather sad, to me it speaks volumes. There are few creatures as devoted as canines. Despite his fictional existence the life of a faithful dog whom waited for two decades on his master to return left a mark on me. I knew that is what I wanted to call my business because I knew that what I wanted was to help people have that type of relationship with their dogs. 

 

There are plenty of accounts of real-life dogs waiting for years for masters that don’t return, Hachiko, Greyfriar’s Bobby, or stories of dogs that travel miles to return home and when I hear them they make me happy and usually teary-eyed. Argos, stuck for me. One day I hope to have a dog bearing the legendary name. Though, so far, none of them have fit the name, as much as I love them. 

 

Man’s best friend gets a lot of attention on this day. So, I hope as you think about your canine’s a little more today that you’ve got a dog as faithful as Argos by your side. One whom will wait decades just to see you one more time. Because without the existence of Canis Familiaris life would be dull. I would also not be who I am. 

 

From Kinder to Canine:End of an Era

Today I resigned from my job of thirteen years. It was not a decision made lightly or without months of prayer. I want you to know that it has been an honor and not a duty taken lightly, caring for, teaching, and loving your children over the years. You’ve unknowingly given me a gift that I will forever cherish. I can’t have children so it was never taken for granted when kids ran down the halls screaming my name or came up to hug me when they saw me. I’ve even had the pleasure of seeing many sibling groups come through my room. They have been years full of kids who don’t always know my name or call me things that aren’t remotely close to ‘Jared’. In fact, my first year I went by Jaro to one girl in particular and never once corrected her. Children are funny that way, and my name being correct isn’t nearly as important as them feeling comfortable to yell at me when they see me. 

 

Some days were long and others not long enough. I’ve seen your children grin ear from ear as they successfully wrote their names, or letters, or recognized a number or shape. There is a chance they learned a great deal about space, and animals (two of my favorite things). If you ever question the retention of a child just read them a Bible passage and then have them request it repeatedly and then at four give profound insight that even as an adult surprises you. They are far smarter than you think, more capable than most assume. They only require a chance to be children and to learn their way. The world could do with a lot more childlike learning ability. But, the thing I wanted them to learn the most was who Jesus was. Over the years technology helped bridge the gap between the Bible and children and brought to life Bible passages in a visual way that kids can understand, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, David and Goliath, and the paralytic man whom Jesus healed as his friends lowered him through the roof tended to the be the ones they liked the most. 

 

I had never planned on being at MDO that long, I took the job assuming it would be a pay for college gig-it did but it also lasted until I was thirty. Funny how God works, life rarely unfolds as it is expected to from a human standpoint. This is the end of era but the beginning of a new adventure, a next step I’ve waited for most of my life, and to date the biggest decision I’ve made as an adult. As I relinquish teaching duties of children I pick up the teaching and training of canines. I am now the owner of Argos K9 LLC a dog training company. Children and dogs are some of the few things that make natural sense to me. I don’t need them to be explained, being around them is just normal. The step from teaching children to training dogs although a big one is as natural as breathing. It’s also incredibly exciting and a childhood dream being realized. 

 

So, I say thank you. Thank you for years of memories. Thank you for trusting me with your children. Thank you for letting me love them and watch them learn and grow.