Getting gifts isn’t something I really enjoy. When someone gives me something, I usually feel awkward, unsure of how to react. But there was one gift I received that will forever stand out as the best thing I’ve ever been given.
I once had a little dachshund named Cooper. He was my best buddy and went everywhere with me. Sadly, at just three years old, he developed an autoimmune disease. On Christmas Day in 2019, surrounded by my family, Cooper passed away in my arms. We were all devastated. It’s incredible how deeply attached we can become to these little companions.
Fast forward to the fall of 2023. My wife and I were outside when a car pulled up the driveway. She motioned for me to come over. As I got closer, I recognized the driver—it was a friend who had moved away. I wondered what she was doing there. My wife, Michelle, was talking with her, holding something in her hands. With her back to me, she said again, “Come here.” When she turned around, she handed me a tiny brown and white dachshund puppy.
The moment I held him against my chest, tears streamed down my face. I was instantly reminded of Cooper. When I looked up, both Michelle and our friend Shana were crying, and soon all three of us were weeping together over this adorable little puppy. My usual awkwardness around gifts disappeared. Instead, I was overwhelmed with joy. Michelle said softly, “This is your early Christmas present.” I didn’t even know what to say—I just hugged both Michelle and Shana, wiping away the tears.
I don’t know how I can ever repay my wife, Michelle, for giving me Trooper. I’ve thanked her many times, but words will never truly express my gratitude. Still, I think when she sees Trooper and me together, she knows how much it meant to me to receive such a sweet, thoughtful gift.
On a shelf in my home, I keep a little sign that reads, “Dogs Welcome, People Tolerated.” It’s meant to be funny, but there’s some truth to it. Many days I’d rather sit quietly with my dog than with anyone else. Dogs are honest. They never hide how they feel about their humans, and I believe they give us the closest thing we’ll ever experience in this life to pure, unconditional love.
Now it’s the fall of 2025, and that puppy—Trooper—just turned two in August. He’s my best buddy, always by my side. Without question, he is the best gift I’ve ever received.
