It is my considered opinion
having seen a powerful lot of things in my life, that the Creator is less likely to judge us on our most worried about transgressions, than these two very specific things:
1: The way we use the skills and the talents He gave us to the best of our ability to make the world a better place, even if only for one person.
2: The way we care for those under our charge.
My dear old friend Gary, who has recently lost his beloved companion of many years, speaks about the despair it sometimes fills in him. I remind him, he has an obligation to arrive at the Hereafter in the best shape possible so that he may rejoin Emerson. The same is true of Mr B and Midwest Chick and Schmoo today.
NO life is lived in vain that was loved by a dog. No human ever had a more noble calling than to care for his four legged friend.
Our thoughts and prayers to you all this night, sitting by a fire, laying in a bed, cognizant of the shallow depression beside you which once held a loyal beating heart.
If I don’t meet all my dogs in Heaven, Me and God is gonna have words.
19 comments Og | Uncategorized
No doubt your dogs will all be there.
Someone once said, and I don’t remember who, “If dogs don’t go to heaven I want to go where they go.”
“Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot about little puppies.” — Gene Hill
Even the thought of one of my hounds passing brings instant blurred vision.
I’ve had cats for years, due largely to schedule (you can leave a cat alone for 12 hours a day and they don’t care). We’ve been catless for about a year and a half now, lost the last one 20 years after find her as a kitten in my front yard.
“No Heaven will ever Heaven be, unless my cats are there to welcome me.”
My wife and I often talk about getting a dog when our schedules permit. She likes Dachshunds, I’m partial to Beagles or Basset hounds myself.
My friend the priest often answers questions from kids about whether animals will be in heaven with something like “only the ones you loved”.
My dogs humble me with their love and devotion. I don’t deserve it.
Patrick: none of us do.
Darn you.
After Strider passed a year back, I thought “maybe one dog in the house at one time is enough”.
…but you made me realize that I was only thinking about my own preferences.
…maybe it’s time to help out another dog.
Well said Og. As I have recovered and grown closer to being the man God intends for me to be, my growth has been visible, manifested in the behavior of my bird dog. From an overly submissive, trembling wreck who would not let you love on him, Remington has become a veritable love sponge. He sleeps with the people, often being used as a body pillow by one of us. I still remember the first time he was caught snuggling while i slept, the embarrassed look on his face and realization that we were growing and changing together. A dog’s love is a reminder of the nature of God’s unconditional love for us. My heart goes out to Schmoo’s family. Damn it’s dusty in the office today.
Over the years I’ve found the ideal solution for me is to have three dogs at the same time. An Old Dog. A Middle Aged Dog. And a Young Dog. The two younger dogs learn how to act, what to be afraid of and what’s no big deal, from the Old Dog. The M.A.D. still has enough gumption to keep the Y.D. from getting too big for it’s britches. And when the O.D. passes, you’ve got one dog for each arm to hug and two coats to soak up the tears.
Then the process starts anew.
The sweetest smell on Earth is Puppy Breath. God I love that smell.
Puppies…. one of the few things that make Life worth living.
I love my crippled dog, slight in stature though she may be. Prayers for the loss of those mentioned here.
Thank you for your words. We’re really blessed with our Schmoo. Her presence and joy are a quiet happiness. We’ve both done our best to deserve her.
Ain’t that the truth. If you can’t treat something as helpless and dependent on you as a four legged buddy (or really any pet), you deserve every pain you get.
Well Said Og!
Indeed. We lost our Duke to cancer a few months back.
My heart goes out to Schmoo and the family.
And yes, we will have words too. Then I’m going to leave to find my dog.
Also in the last days with our good boy Zeke — and lost another beloved dog a few weeks ago.
Valentine lived to be at least 15 years old — she was a stray so we don’t know for sure — and she just plain wore out.
Zeke too — he’s 110 pounds of solid love and he’s failing. We’re keeping him comfortable and he is still mostly happy to be with us, still master of his domain, though we realize he is slipping away.
Cats and dogs — the children of our hearts, they are. My own heart aches for our children who have gone before us who I know I will see again, for all of you who have loved and had to let go.
God’s wildest blessings to all of you and most of all to Schmoo.
Jenny
who is typing this with a cat in my lap
I’m pretty sure it was Mark Twain who wrote that if there weren’t any animals in Heaven, he was going somewhere else. I’ve only had a few dogs in my life, but if they’re not there, I’m doing a Mark Twain. And yes I strive every day to be half the man my dog thinks I am. You haven’t lived till you’ve been knocked off your feet and licked half to death by a hunnert lb. pit-bull. My Ozzy chased bears out of two of my hunting camps. The only times I ever saw him angry. I was almost as scared as the bears were. That dog was as far across as he was tall and when he opened his mouth it looked like the front third of him was teeth, big sharp ones. I cried like a baby when he died. Two weeks later my sis-in-law brought over a 14 month old PitBull bitch from a rescue facility. Bella’s as cuddly as a teddy bear and has the same protective personality that Ozzy showed. Dunno about bears yet.
Prayers have been said for Schmoo and her People. G-d bless all of you.
Gerry N.
Oh, I forgot. If some fool tells you money can’t buy love, go buy your dog a cheeseburger. Or two. Or three.
Gerry N.
We see reflected in our dog’s eyes that which we wish we actually are. That unconditional, undeserved love is a daily lesson on Grace.
I wish I could be the person my dogs have always thought I am.
And now I seem to have something in my eye…