Dogwinks
by Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt
Not long after my beloved Mexican rescue dog crossed the rainbow bridge at age 16, my copy of Dogwinks arrived in the mail. “Godwinks,” according to author Rushnell, are events that some might call coincidences and others might say are reminders that God sees you and loves you. I felt like the arrival of Dogwinks was indeed a Godwink. I read it a chapter per night, and it was a much needed and comforting read.
The book is composed of short stories about dogs and their remarkable resilience and ability to love their human families. They are true stories and each is followed by a short reflection. Some will make you laugh; some will make you cry. All will inspire you to have a character more like a dog.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Nonfiction, Inspiration, short stories
Notes: I have read the original Godwinks book, and I found it more compelling than Dogwinks; but to the author’s credit, when you are writing about things that happen to people, you have more to go on. Dogs can’t share their memories or viewpoints of what happened so the authors had to make that part up, as is typical of other dog books or movies. Still, I enjoyed it and recommend it.
Publication: 2020—Howard Books (Simon and Schuster)
Memorable Lines:
“Son,” said Johnny’s dad, grasping him by the shoulders, “love isn’t something you say…it’s something you do.” … “Humans and dogs are just alike.” his dad continued. “You can tell someone you love ‘em all day long, but it’s when you reach out and touch them, showing affection, that’s when they really know it.”
When we lose a beloved pet, we ache from their absence. We feel the loss just as deeply as we would that of a human companion. God cares about all His creations and He knows how much we love our furry friends. The good book tells us: God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the sky…whatever man called every living creature, that was its name.” {Genesis 2:19 (BSB)}
The sweet deaf and blind dog, once left by the side of the road like a bag of trash, is today a celebrity dog touching the hearts of thousands. Even more important, Keller is a canine ambassador for God, delivering hope and encouragement to people young and old, in schools and hospitals.
education pathways 
I am a firm believer in Godwinks Linda, and have experienced many powerful ones. Receiving this book after your dog’s passing is definitely a Godwink! It is so hard to loose a beloved pet…
Jenna
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Yes, the timing on the book was no coincidence. It was a Godwink during a hard time, for sure!
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I am so glad you received this book during a hard time. Sending my condolences to you.
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Thank you, Nancy. Dogs really become our friends, and so he is missed!
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I hit the reply button too fast.
I believe in Godwinks and now I believe is Dogwinks.
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From the little things to the big ones, I know in my heart that God sees me and those “coincidences” are not just chance. 😊
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I too believe in Godwinks; James 1:17 corroborates: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” That book qualifies! I’m so sorry you lost your precious fur-friend. It’s so hard to say good-bye.
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Thank you, Nancy. God is gracious to us in good times and bad. Your quote from James is perfect for this post!
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I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, Linda. Our dogs are our most constant companions. I can only hope to love as unconditionally.
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You nailed it, Crystal. Our goal should be to love like a dog loves.😊
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I have never heard of Godwinks, sounds amazing. God sent you this book right when you needed it.
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Yes, He did!
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That last quote brought tears to my eyes, Linda. This sounds like a wonderful book for animal lovers and Christians. God works in mysterious ways, and this sounds like a book that came to you to comfort you when you needed it. Wonderful review. I will have to see if my library has this one.
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As can be expected, some of the stories appealed to me more than others. I cried reading one and smiled reading others. All in all, a good dog book.
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