| With Valentine’s Day coming up, I’d like to introduce you to a delightful story, including 7 powerful quotes, about what love really looks like—drawn from the experience of a woman who cared for more than 100 rescued animals. Before her death in 2016, Betsy Pauly was known in her Missouri community as the woman who never turned away an animal in need. Over the years, she rescued more than 100 cats, at least ten dogs, a blind pigeon, and countless strays who would not have survived without human care. At first glance, this might sound like a familiar story of animal devotion. But Betsy’s stories weren’t just about animals. They quietly dismantle a common myth about love itself: that love is primarily about enjoyment or emotional reward. From Betsy’s life emerges Befriending Betsy, a two-voice memoir co-authored with book coach Jen Braaksma, and within it, seven evergreen lessons about love: 1.- Love shows up even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. Betsy bottle-fed orphaned kittens at 2 a.m., chased strays through downtown streets, and reorganized her days around emergencies that never arrived at a convenient time. Love, she showed, rarely waits for ideal conditions. 2.- Love is presence, not perfection. Betsy couldn’t save every animal, but she stayed with each one—sometimes even holding them as they died. Love wasn’t about outcomes; it was about not abandoning another being when things became hard. 3.- Love is about giving, not taking. Betsy’s love was expressed through what she gave: time, energy, attention, and care—often when nothing was given back. Her stories challenge the idea that love is defined by how good it feels, showing instead that love begins with generosity. 4.- Love is an act, not an idea. Betsy didn’t just care about animals in principle; she structured her entire life around caring for them. She believed love matters when translated into action. 5.- Love isn’t defined by pleasure. Betsy’s devotion wasn’t guided by whether something felt good in the moment. Her stories show that love calls for care, steadiness, and follow-through –not just enjoyment or emotional payoff. 6.- Love is contagious. Through Betsy’s writing, her compassion continues to ripple outward, inspiring readers to live with the same generosity, courage, and steadiness she embodied. 7.- Love speaks, even when the person can’t. Betsy’s unfinished manuscript carried her humor, sharpness, and fierce devotion long after her death. Her voice makes clear that love can outlive the one who expressed it. These lessons form the emotional core of Befriending Betsy, which weaves Betsy’s animal stories with Braaksma’s experience of bringing her voice into the world after her death. ** Jen Braaksma (www.jenbraaksma.com) is the co-author of Befriending Betsy and author of two young adult novels, Evangeline’s Heaven and Amaranth. A former journalist and high school English teacher, Jen is now a book coach who helps writers develop their stories. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband (soulmates do exist!), two daughters (Best. Kids. Ever.) and her four cats (who know they’re in charge). Betsy Pauly, originally from Minneapolis, earned her degree in business before taking on the corporate world. She began painting professionally in 1986, then turned to writing in 2010. Over the years, Betsy rescued more than one hundred cats, at least ten dogs, and one blind pigeon. With her husband, Chips, she lived in Dallas, Texas, Carthage, Missouri, and Englewood, Florida, before her death in 2016. |
Jen Braaksma