I know that it must be different
now that I am no longer here
I can see how much I was loved and
how much all of you did care
It will be hard at first
when you look around for me
Hoping to find me lying on my bed or
beside my favorite tree
But someday what you will begin to see
Although it will take some time
Is that you brought happiness to me
And forever it will be mine
Remember, it's the family I had
that meant the most to me.
So please don't be sad
It was just my time to leave
Author Unknown
They say memories are golden;
well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories
I only wanted you.
A million times I will miss you,
a million times I will cry.
If love alone could have saved you,
you never would have died.
In life I loved you dearly,
in death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
no pup could ever fill.
It broke my heart to lose you,
but you did not go alone.
For part of me went with you,
the day God called you home.
Your precious memory is my keepsake,
with which I'll never part.
God has you safe in His keeping,
but I'll have you forever in my heart.
If tears could build a stairway,
and heartache make a lane,
I'd walk the path to heaven
and bring you back again.
Our family chain is broken,
and nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
the chain will link again.
Author Unknown
To have loved and then said farewell is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and
returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you. For the care that you gave
to me so unselfishly. For all of these things I am grateful and thankful. I ask that
you grieve not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched
each other's lives.
My life was fuller because you were there, not as owner, but as my friend. Today, I
am as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the
flowers and the sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures. I can run, jump
and play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no
aching joints and no regrets and no aging. We await the arrival of our lifelong
companions and know that togetherness is forever. You live in our hearts as we do in
yours. Companions such as you are very rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you
have within yourself.
Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies,
and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.
by Ken D. Conover
a.. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride
b.. Allow the experience of fresh air & the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy
c.. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them
d.. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience
e.. Let others know when they've invaded your territory
f.. Take naps & stretch before rising
g.. Run, romp & play daily
h.. Eat with gusto & enthusiasm
i.. Be loyal
j.. Never pretend to be something you're not
k.. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it
l.. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by & nuzzle them gently
m.. Thrive on attention & let people touch you
n.. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do
o.. On hot days, drink lots of water & lay under a shady tree
p.. When you're happy, dance around & wag your entire body
q.. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing &
pout...run right back & make friends
r.. Bond with your pack
s.. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk
Author Unknown
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring
you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and
courage.
If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself,
and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot
touch another without leaving its mark.
Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures - jumping
in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a
good scratch behind the ears.
If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every
element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be
overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full
of valuable information. Your pace may be slower - except when heading home to the
food dish - but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert
in the field.
Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail
rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details - the colorful mushrooms on the
rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.
Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the
landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And
we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world
that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing
wonders, each day an essence all its own.
Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You
will find yourself watching summer insects collecting on a screen, (How bizarre they
are! How many kinds there are!), or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through
the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff
the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the
point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.
You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not
understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food
brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block
an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle
with chewy toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run
around the house trailing your bathrobe tie - with a cat in hot pursuit, all in the
name of love.
Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy
more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the
need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because
your cat loves the crinkly sound.
You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that says, "It
doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are
together." Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can
give another. You will not find it often among the human race.
And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed.
Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross
and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw
those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so
chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just
a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be - the one they were
proud to call beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true
love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear
animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down.
And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet's time on
earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them,
really, just for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to
give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is
nothing left.
The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping
in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle
now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that
if we gave our hearts they would be broken.
But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the
road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run
on ahead - young and whole once more. "Godspeed, good friend," we say, until our
journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
~ Written by Crystal Ward Kent ~
When I am gone, release me, let me go-
I have so many things to see and do.
You must not tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness.
I thank you for the love you have each shown.
But now it is time I traveled alone.
So grieve awhile for me if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be comforted by trust,
It is only for a while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart,
I will not be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me, call and I will come.
Though you can not see or touch me, I will be near.
And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All my love around you soft and clear.
And then, when you must come this way alone,
I will greet you with a smile and "Welcome Home".
Author Unknown
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