On July 16, I lost my first dog, Graham. I have lost many games in my life, but none as painful as this loss. She was going on 14 years old . She was very tired, in no pain, smiling, and in my arms when the vet gave her the shot. Suddenly I was holding this precious animal in my arms without any life in her, just the memories of what we had shared. Graham wasn't a basketball coach, but she was a coach, a life coach. She taught me so much. I have often thought I could write a book about all she has taught me, but I won't! Today, I will honor her on this blog. Lots of you knew her. Some of you called her the Jesus dog. Others said she had eyes like Pat Summitt, cause when she stared at me she got anything she wanted. All who knew her, knew one thing for sure: Graham knew how to love and be loved.

The great commands Jesus gives us: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength and love others as ourselves. Jim wrote about it in his book. We already discussed it. We hear the word every day, but Graham LIVED it. If you have a dog, you understand what I mean. There wasn't anything so wonderful to Graham than to BE with me. Sitting. Walking. Hiking. Playing. The last few weeks of her life, when it was hard for her to walk around, she would sometimes walk to the other side of the room and lie where she could get a better look at me. Then she would smile and stare, stare and smile. Feasting her eyes upon her master. That smile. I felt loved. I will always remember that smile!

She let me love her every since she was a puppy. I showered her with treats, and toys, and walks. I picked her up . I made sure she had reason to wag her tail. I brought her along. We were a great team. To love and to be loved. They are equally important, I believe. To give love and to receive love. If we do one without the other, we have turned the virtue into an unbalanced vice. Loving, and being loved by Graham were both the best.

Henri Nouwen wrote "the goal of education and formation for the ministry is continually to recognize the Lord's voice, His face, and His touch in every person we meet." Reread that sentence and think about why Henri believed that to be important. My guess is that if we truly recognized Jesus in every person, we would love them well. Reread that sentence and put a player’s name into the place where he writes “every person”. How does that make you feel?

Read 1 Corinthians 13. Read it again. That is a picture of how Graham loved me. And how Jesus loves me too. What did Paul mention first in the list of love is? Patience! Jesus and Graham loved with patience. Why do you think that was first?

dc Talk said it once in a song, "love is a verb". I believe that it is. So this week, while I am in Reno, and then out on the road, I will be thinking about ways I can love my players in the way Graham (and Jesus) taught me about love. And other coaches. And everyone I meet. The rental car guy. The waitress. I will also be thinking about Graham and how grateful I am to have had her for so long. We only have one first dog. But there are many other dogs in our lives worthy of love. In fact, I have 2 more, Heaven and Pepper. I look up and see Pepper looking at me, waiting to love me. Thanks, Jesus.