Tuesday, May 11, 2010

When they leave us behind - we MUST remember the love - for that is their legacy


We've lost some larger-than-life K-9 friends these past days and we stand to lose more in the near future. What they leave behind for us to remember is much more than we were ever able to give to them when they were here near our feet. Why do we sob so hard that our body feels as though it will burst apart? Why does our heart break so deeply and clearly that cold winds blow through the broken parts? Why do we feel such a deep loss - sometimes much more than when human family members have passed?

Could it be that we will miss that unconditional acceptance and love we experienced with our partner each and every day, when we began our morning - bounding out of bed together- racing to see if the sun was shining or if it had snowed or if the rain would keep us inside - playing games to occupy our minds and to exercise our bodies 'til the sun shone once again? Could it be that we realized that no living being ever loved us as much as our dog?

Large or small. Purebred or mutt. Highly trained or little dickens. We love them and they love us. We form a bond that death cannot penetrate. Our hearts are permanently joined.

Goodbye sweet ones of the past, we mourn you still. Yet, hello, to new life and puppy breath and house training and sleepless nights - hello to the senior in need of a forever home to rest its weary head - for if you truly felt the love and if you truly remember the love - you can never, not in your lifetime, imagine living without the love.

I miss you will my whole heart and soul: Rusty, Danny, Chuck, Tony, Willow, Prince, Scottie, Savannah Leigh and Starr. You have left a deep brand on my heart - a scar I wear with pride and honor. One that I am proud to bear and proud to share and eager to receive again when the time is right and your spirit leads me to the next journey I am fated to take with another of your kind.

Goodbye dogs of my past - of our past - hello to the dogs of the future - born and unborn - sheltered or stray. Have no fear for I will find you and you will find me when the time is right and when the twinkling dog stars of the Universe lead us to each other - where we will form our eternal bond and continue the Circle of Life with each other.

National Canine Cancer Foundation

28 comments:

Maxmom said...

This is absolutely beautiful Mimi, dear friend!
MAXMOM AND THE MAXPACK IN SA

Linda said...

Beautiful Post, they bring out more love than we thought possible, Linda & Prince. Remembering with love,our own Sally,Fluffy,Wally,and Poppy.

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

This is such a wonderful post - and oh so true. There is nothing like sweet puppy breath to start healing the hole left in your heart when you have to give up a precious dog. And there is nothing like the physical pain you feel on the day that it leaves you.

Lola and also Franklin, too said...

This is a wonderful post. Blog Mom says there are dog and cats who have been gone over 30 years but she still thinks of them often and with love. And I know that even though I've only been with my humans for a year they would never, ever forget me. I'm in their hearts as they are in mine, forever.

wags, Lola

houndstooth said...

Beautiful and very true words today! You said it so eloquently!

Ms. ~K said...

Thank you for this beautiful post...
With big tears rolling down my cheeks,
Kit

Anonymous said...

Thank you for a beautiful, moving post. Over the last few days I have been thinking how inevitable it is that my furry family members will break my heart. And yet it is a price I willingly pay to have them in my life. If someone told me I'd have to trade in this moment or that moment for less pain in the end, I wouldn't do it. Every second with them is precious.

Amber (Mayzie's Mom)

♥I am Holly♥ said...

What a very beautiful and touching post. Thanks for sharing it. I am having many thoughts as usual about all of the pets in my life that are now gone and how much I still love them including the ones I now have. Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

Sam said...

A solemn, but uplifting, post... thank you for sharing it. No matter how hard it is to lose them, we must be thankful for the times that we did get to share with them.

the booker man said...

thank you for this lovely post. oh, it aches so much to loose one of your best friends, but the joy of having had them by your side to share in life's adventures outweighs the pain.

the booker man and asa's mama

Snowie Baby said...

this is such a beautiful post. so true..
every second with them counts and is so precious.
they really taught us how to love unconditionally.


love.

MySpecialDoggies said...

What a beautiful post.

Remembering my heart & soul doggie Keelee, my beloved doggie Nikki, my little boy Kimba and my sweet Princess.

Thinking of my rescue doggie Apples as she struggles against mammary cancer, and my young golden, Neeli.

Nadine, Apples & Neeli

KT and Easton said...

Beautifully said...thank you.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

So very beautiful AND so very true.

Hugs, the OP Pack

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Perfekht!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Molly the Airedale said...

What a beautiful post! Thank you!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Mrs. JP said...

So very appropriate post. Thanks. It's the love that we have for them. Each a love in it's own and different way.

JacksDad said...

I know. It is making me so sad :(

Sagira said...

What a beautiful post.
So sorry to hear about all your pals that have passed on. :(

1000 Goldens said...

So true, and so well said :(

Teddy Bear said...

Beautifully pawed.:)

Love,
Teddy Bear

little princess Luna~ said...

lovely post--thankies for the sharing~!!

xo,
luna

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Hard post to read, but oh, so loving and beautiful!

Tweedles -- that's me said...

You speak words that my heart cannot express. You speak with love, even though we both know how your heart has hurt at so many times..
Sometimes it takes a wise heart to remind us all of the unconditional love and to do the "right thing"
love
tweedles

Life With Dogs said...

Wonderfully said. One of my favorite posts from a very tough week...

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for sharing this. It's a lovely post.

Taffy said...

One of the best posts ever! I often think about when Twix leaves us and how hard it will be...and as it gets closer to her 12th birthday I think about it more. I would never give up a moment with her to prevent the pain that will come in the end. It is also hard to believe that it has been 12 years since my Max left me...I miss him as much today as I did then. Thank you so much for sharing and for giving us such wonderful words to live by!
Hugs,
Twix's Mom

bbes tribe said...

What a beautiful & eloquent post. You "said" what so many of us feel in our hearts. They are our special friends who teach us so much. Even when gone they are still in our hearts. Thank you!!
Ernie,Sasha,Chica