𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑴𝒆 𝑨 𝑫𝒐𝒈 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝑴𝒆𝒂𝒏

If you've ever had a dog as a pet before you'll understand the true meaning of loyalty. They show it with every fibre in them, through their actions you'll feel it to the bone.

Dogs are one of the few creatures that are truly loyal in nature and they prove this till their very last breath. I've seen dogs who are ready to lay down their lives for their owner.

This prompt reminded me of my beloved shadows ( my beautiful pet) who passed away a few months ago. I recall how she defended and listened to me.Shadows ensured I was doing okay in her own little way and even on her dying day she was right by my side.

Sadly, the world now see loyalty as a transaction because people no longer know the true meaning of loyalty. Their loyalty ends when the benefits of the relationship stops. Only a few remain loyal down to the end.

What does loyalty mean to you? How does it play into your relationships in life?

For me, loyalty is commitment and intentionality. This means being intentional about who we are with and sticking with them in good and bad days.

No true friendship can stand the test of time without loyalty. Loyalty is like a mirror which helps you see where you stand in the life of the other person.

In relationships, loyalty foster trust, security, and also happiness. It is what move a partner to remains faithful to his or her significant other. It is also what moves friends to stay true to each other despite the their little fall out.

I've read stories of "friends" who turned enemies after a very little misunderstanding and most times I conclude they weren't really friends from the outset.

Just like a mother stays loyal to her unborn child even though she experiences the pang of pregnancy. She does all she can to protect her unborn child so too, I like to think that, loyalty helps us watch the back of those we call friends even when it's tough for us to do so. And even when we are upset with them we still support them and help them thrive. What does this mean? Putting asides their shortcomings when there is a need for saving.

Loyalty also means not paying "evil for evil" Even when we are hurt. It also means remembering the days when these ones have once prioritized our happiness even though we are no longer in good terms.

In conclusion, loyalty means faithfulness that is deeply rooted, unconditional, and genuine which foster security, trust and forbearance. When I find a loyal friend, I count them as twice a blessing. Loyal people are very rare to find in our world of today.