Lola's Love

Lola, who always gave love.

Lola’s Love

It all started on December 12, 2009.  For most, this date has no significance.  But, it is the date of creation; the genesis of “Lola’s Love.”  It wasn’t Lola’s wedding date.  It wasn’t even the date of her birth.

She was born not long before this date and was given as a gift of love, just a few weeks after her birth.  She was received as a gift yet always gave innumerable gifts. 

Upon receiving her, Kilee Johnson immediately gave her the loving pet-name, “Little Fluffer” almost as soon as she saw Lola’s silvery, speckled with white, curly fur covered body.  It was love at first sight for both Kilee and Lola.

Sometimes, love at first sight is a fleeting emotion.  But, Lola would not allow such a thing to occur in her world.  She seemed to instinctively know exactly how to create a special, deepening kind of love.  And, she did it in many ways.

Lola always joyously greeted everyone who came her way.  She developed her own voice to do so.  Garrison Johnson loved the way she spoke directly from her heart to her loved ones.  So, Lola quickly received another nickname of love, “RooRoo” because of her style of verbalizing a greeting.

Lola was welcoming in other ways too.  When Landon was born into the Johnson clan, Lola welcomed him, and his brother Asher, into her inner circle and became their protector immediately.  She always had an expanding kind of love that knew no limits.  That was true for every addition into her life.  She was always inclusive.

She included love no matter the specific circumstance.  When an occasion was joyous she would “roo” and dance with excitement.  When sadness struck, as it always seems to occasionally do, she would simply snuggle and caress her hurting person.  She’d do this for minutes, hours or days, as needed.  What mattered most to her was just being there!

Lola always wanted to be there, with those she loved, no matter what.  As the years began to take their toll on her small body she walked a little slower and couldn’t jump quite as high.  There were times when the pain from her arthritis would cause a weary look to shadow her face.  Yet, it didn’t stop her from continuing to give Lola Love.

Even in pain she was still excited to climb, with help, into the family car every morning and afternoon.  It isn’t that she loved to ride in the car.  She loved going with Landon and Asher to and from school.  So much so that she’d be heartbroken if she didn’t get to go.

Then, one day Lola just couldn’t muster the strength to go anywhere at all.  Age had finally caught up to her.  And, the love that was solemnized on December 12, 2009 and had kept her going strong until just last week.  Now we all miss her.  But, we’ll remember her and the things she taught us about love, Lola’s special kind of love.  

After all, she taught us how to deepen our love for others by joyously greeting everyone, loving even under difficult personal circumstances, to be there just to snuggle when needed, to have an expanding love that knows no limit and take time every day to enjoy the small things in life, like going to and from school with those you love.

If we would love as Lola did it, it would be a more glorious world indeed!