Recently, I spent time with a dear friend—celebrating life, family, and growth while also supporting her through a season of grief. Her family was preparing for the loss of a loved one due to illness, and though there were moments of heaviness, there were also moments of joy.

We talked for hours, smiled, laughed, shared a meal, and listened to music. My son played with their family dog, Chica, the entire time, filling the room with childlike delight. It was a beautiful reminder that even in sorrow, there is still joy to be found.

Yet, being there that day was a sacrifice. As someone battling endometriosis, I often experience severe palpitations leading up to my cycle—sometimes feeling like my chest is boiling over. It’s unsettling, even frightening at times. Over the years, I’ve struggled with feeling truly seen and supported, wondering if others understood or if they simply thought it was all in my head.

But God had something to show me that day.

As I felt my palpitations begin to intensify, Chica suddenly began barking from the kitchen. Her family worried that she was being disruptive, but I felt the complete opposite. Chica ran to my side, jumped onto my lap, and gently placed her head on my chest. Within minutes, the thumping in my chest slowed, then ceased. I almost teared up.

Chica wasn’t a trained service animal, but what God had placed in her was the same gift He places in service animals—a deep, intuitive ability to comfort, to protect, and to remind us that we are never alone.

Not long after, when my palpitations flared up again, she returned, sitting at my feet with her warm body pressed against my leg, her deep eyes locked onto mine as if she understood. She was a quiet reassurance that I was seen, heard, and loved.

The Gift of Service

Service animals are trained to protect, assist, and bring peace to those they serve. But beyond their training, their greatest gift is their ability to love without hesitation. In protecting us, they teach us to love them in return, to love life a little more, and to be grateful for the simple, sacred moments of care and connection.

And isn’t that the very heart of service? To offer love so freely that it lifts another person’s burden?

Chica’s presence that day reminded me that, just as she had instinctively come to my side, that we are called to be that same support for others. Service isn’t just about fulfilling a need—it’s about showing up, offering comfort, and reminding someone that they are not alone. And in doing so, we find healing for ourselves as well.