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-Christine Legg

A Living Legacy of Community Service

Louise Jennings: Purposeful Life and Driving Motivation

By Christine Legg

At 90 years old, Louise Jennings walks into the room with self-assured steps and a big, warm smile that has been bringing joy to the hearts of community members in Rockingham County, especially those with an incarcerated family member. Louise is very comfortable with her role as a community grandmother whom families reach out to for help with a family member seeking to reenter society after serving time in the prison system within Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County, Virginia.

Louise has, for the past 44 years, actively worked with jail superintendents, churches, both government and private organizations, to help more than 30,000 men and women who have served time obtain jobs, mobile phones, and clothing for a smooth reintegration into their communities. The reentry program, visitation, Bible studies, and Christmas programs have provided the much-needed resources to those incarcerated, their families, and their children on the outside. For thousands, Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach, founded by Louise and her late husband Sheldon “Shel” Jennings, has become their lifeline and a sound, reliable support system over the years in both Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

For many, Jennings is a provider of solutions within the community. Many wonder how Louise remained so resolute and committed to helping inmates and their families after she was devastated by the passing of Sheldon Jennings in 1983. Louise Jennings explains how putting things into proper perspective led her to decide not to quit. “I did not know what to do or how to live by myself after Sheldon died, after we co-founded Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach. I had to keep going, knowing that it was exactly what Sheldon, who had gone to be with the Lord, would want me to do one day at a time.”

Paula Ford, mentored by Jennings to take over as the Executive Director at Kingsway Prison and Family Outreach, is a first-hand witness to Louise’s consistent resolve and daily commitment through life’s twists and turns. “Louise is a true model of living a purpose-filled life for me, and so many. That she is still actively volunteering at her age is beyond amazing. She is retired but not tired of helping inmates and their families in the Shenandoah Valley.” Paula concluded, still in awe of Louise’s drive and unflinching commitment after all these years.

For Louise, who recently received a humanitarian award in honor of her longstanding community service in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County, the spotlight can be overwhelming. She prefers her quiet life of adventure, living out her purpose.

Amidst the fanfare, Louise is in her comfort zone when she is working quietly and effectively, reaching out to inmates and their families. “Sometimes, people need a second chance. Seeing former inmates doing well and families reuniting has been a great joy for me over the years.” Louise makes people feel at ease in her calming presence through her warm and gentle smile, which draws people into her world, devoid of worries or strife.

How to Bond with Your Dog

By Christine Legg

We all need loyal and best friends in our lives. The widely quoted saying that a dog is “man’s best friend” is not a cliche. Our four-legged best friends are very loyal. They appreciate our love and the time we put into caring for them and their overall well-being. Over time, our dogs become an integral part of our lives and emotional support system. The truth is, when we have them, we cannot live without them.

Bonding with our dogs is essential to our one-of-a-kind relationship with them. The first thing to know is that every individual breed of dog has a unique personality, just like humans. Though they generally blend with our own personality and lifestyle, it is best to get a dog that has similar personality attributes.

Dogs are an integral part of our families, and bonding with them is essential to our one-of-a-kind relationship with them. Bonding builds trust in our relationships with both our younger and older dogs. It is beneficial to their overall well-being, as well as a source of comfort for older dogs when they slow down in the twilight of their lives. Bonding is an extension of love.

Ben Miller is a dog parent to Kaya, a German Shorthaired Pointer. Ben said Kaya changed his life for good. “Kaya is a good and awesome dog. We have gone camping and kayaking numerous times.” Ben shared more about his companion. “She is energetic and makes me want to go out and do things. I have made some good friends because of her outgoing personality.” He added.

Jennifer Lasam is a single mother with a 14-year-old son, Wyatt. For Jennifer, Cookie, her beloved dog, a Labrador Retriever, is a “lifesaver” after her painful divorce. “Cookie was part of the healing journey.” Jennifer shared with a wide smile spreading across her face, which soon turned into a big laugh as she talked about Cookie. “Her love is unconditional. Cookie is always there when family and friends go back home. The thing is, Cookie matches my personality; we do crossword puzzles together. She loves to cuddle, and that is a great thing because I am a hugger.”

Regardless of the breed or age of your dog, the fundamentals of bonding with your dog, especially dogs that have been abused, are basically the same.

1. Talk with Your Dog: Talking to your dog and having conversations is a sure way to bond with them. Though dogs cannot talk like humans, their corresponding “facial expressions” and actions show that they understand and can strongly perceive what we are expressing with our spoken words.

2. Acknowledge Your Dog: Dogs also have emotions. They give unconditional love; we hurt their feelings when we ignore them. Acknowledge them when they are around you and when you return home, even if you just had a long or hard day. They are part of your emotional support system. They make us feel better and appreciate the simple gifts of life.

3. Do Things with Your Dog: One of the ways you can bond with your dog is to include them in your lifestyle activities. Get a dog with a playful personality if you love to spend time outdoors. Go for walks in the park, taking in the fresh air and the sights together. Make it a meaningful shared routine experience, especially as dogs get older.

4. Prioritize the Well-being of Your Dog: Make the overall health and well-being of your dog a top priority. Feed them the right kind of food and keep scheduled visits with their veterinarian. It is our responsibility as dog parents to know if they are thriving or not, especially as they age.

5.Refrain from Maltreatment: Our dogs are not meant to be maltreated in any way. Resist taking out your anger or frustrations on your dog, even when they engage in bad behavior. We bond better with our dogs when we correct and discipline them with love and firmness. The tone of our voice matters in both our conversations and corrections. Throwing items at our dogs to hurt them and beating them is a no! Treat your dog as you would love to be treated. The Golden Rule is not just for our interactions with fellow humans. Animal cruelty is against the law and morally wrong.

Beth Ostrosky Stern, a dog owner and bestselling author of Oh My Dog, puts it well when she said, “Bonding with our dogs is a long-term commitment. The rewards are unquantifiable, though it takes a chunk of our time and energy.” It is worth taking intentional steps each day to deepen our bonds with our ride-or-die companions because dogs make life better.

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