Mark4510
Gold Member
He has been one of my closest friends for 14 years and its now time, despite all of our efforts, to pony up and say goodbye. I have been truly blessed to have had him in my life and he has helped teach me much. He taught me bravery when he did not whimper once as I picked him up from the pound as a frightened, alone, “too soon from his mother” little ball of fur. He taught me compassion when I realized that being cold and alone outside did not have to be his lot in life after I looked out the window on a cold winter morning and saw his little puppy body curled up in a planter box shaking with cold. He taught me to cherish the anticipation of a good thing almost as much as getting to do it after seeing his face light up as he spent considerable time picking out the perfect stick to play fetch with from 2 cords of wood. He taught me forgiveness when, after being overly harsh with him, I leaned over to rub his ears only to have his tail start his entire body wagging and receiving an “it’s ok” lick on the face. He has taught me that hard work has its own type for reward after watching him herd up cattle for no reason only to see him trying to sneak back and herd them again….just because he was successful the last time he tried. He has taught me empathy and the power of caring when every time I have hurt myself or don’t feel well, he stays by my side, sometimes staring into my eyes until I feel better. He has taught me that life is to be enjoyed one stick at a time as he would fetch ridiculously large sticks thrown too far into the lake just to do it again, for hours. He has taught me kindness after watching him move away from the wood stove so the new puppy could be close to the warmth of the fire. He has taught me trust when he swam strongly to the call of my voice, never losing eye contact, as I ran down stream and waded out into the increasingly faster swift water to grab him before he went into the rapids. He taught me to enjoy every part of life when he would chase sticks across the rim of ice on the shore and fetch the stick with an unbridled love in his face for what life had to offer right now; all the while knowing that the clinking little frozen diamonds of ice that clung to the ends of each hair would melt in a large puddle while he slept in front of the wood stove. He has taught me friendship as he has was always excited to “Load up” when taking a trip in the truck to go fishing, when taking a quick spin on the wave runner on the lake, when going to one of the many endless horse shows, when running the tractor or when he was just bone tired on a cold winter night later in life as he wanted to fall asleep on the end of our soft warm bed. He taught me compassionate honesty is always the best trail to follow when he was never jealous of the time we might spend with another animal in the “family”, he never was devious or mean, and he always cared more about others than he did for himself. He has taught me that playfulness adds youth to life, regardless of age, when he would creep around one end of the barn to “sneak up” on us while we were riding in the arena only to “catch” him doing that so he would race around the far end of the barn and “sneak up” again so he could be caught again all the while those bright eyes, alert ears and excited face would say “catch” me again so I can do this all over….for ever. He has taught me about the dignity to keep trying live every moment of life no matter how physically and emotionally painful when, over the last few years the mileage has caught up with him as he could only stare at the Frisbee hanging from its perch on the deck, then no longer chase a stick, then no longer rough house with the “dumb” dog, then no longer get up the stairs to get to his bed, then to stand up without his back half collapsing beneath him while eating and now just to stand up on his own
And now he is helping me learn more about all of the above, by doing the thing that is right, by helping him end his pain when he cannot do so on his own.
So now I am going to feed him a belly full of whatever treats he wants, give him a pill to allow him drift off to sleep with his head on my lap and then give him the shot that respectfully ends his pain.
When I make that journey to heaven, I believe God will allow him to be there with his Frisbee in his mouth, eyes clear with anticipation, body free from pain and his face lit up with excitement to see us again.
And now he is helping me learn more about all of the above, by doing the thing that is right, by helping him end his pain when he cannot do so on his own.
So now I am going to feed him a belly full of whatever treats he wants, give him a pill to allow him drift off to sleep with his head on my lap and then give him the shot that respectfully ends his pain.
When I make that journey to heaven, I believe God will allow him to be there with his Frisbee in his mouth, eyes clear with anticipation, body free from pain and his face lit up with excitement to see us again.
