My beloved dog just died. I had to put him to rest and say goodbye to a very special friend that played a huge role in my life. My heart was broken open and a very dear and precious part of it was torn out. It was a place in my heart where I loved, nurtured, played, laughed, cuddled, fed, cleaned, traveled, sang, danced, comforted, healed, and shared too many wonderful memories to capture with words. He not only was a great dog, but a son, a faithful, loyal, and loving companion, a comforting and wise teacher, and most of all, a caring, sentient being that was always there to depend on in times of need. How can I tell you that I loved him so dearly, when it always comes down to one thing, that I can't think of right words to describe how much I love him and will forever more.

I overheard a little 5 year-old girl one day while trying to comfort a friend who had just lost her dog. She told her little friend that God only puts so much love into his creatures, and when they use up the love they die. She went on to say that humans are stingy with their love, and that is why we live so much longer. Yes indeed little girl, our little furry friends have nothing but love to give and they use it up so quickly it hurts. Perhaps some might point to bad dogs they have known, but I wonder whether the love those "bad" dogs had to give was corrupted by a bad person! Anyway, the point is life always goes past too quickly in the end. In a flurry of memories from a lifetime we sometimes remember too late the lost moments we had to share our love. God gives us life to love, and sooner or later we need to let go of that life and return it to God. Oh, my dear precious and beloved pet, it is no surprise that God spelled backwards is dog! You came into this world with love and you went out by leaving a trail of love behind that I will never forget.

I see you everywhere, yet I look and you are not there! I long to feel you, touch you, hold you, kiss you, and shake your little paw. The tears run down my frowned face as I realize only your spirit remains to comfort me and remind me that you will never die. I will never let your spirit die my friend. Your spirit will always be with me, as a source of strength and reminder of the love and wisdom you shared. I will carry the love and wisdom forward that you gave to me. I hope to be worthy of your admiration and pride, just as you gained my deepest admiration, pride, and respect while you walked this earth. And when I no longer walk this earth, I pray to be united with you and regain the warmth of your smile as well as the endless, unconditional presence and embrace of your love.

Some might poke fun at, some might trivialize, some might simply not understand. However, my love for you stands tall. Don't fret my friend over the distance you sometimes felt because you were not human. I know how often you tried to be one of us, and you were disturbed by the notion of others that you were just a dog. Just remember, the truth is, we were all just human. Too caught up in our ways, our beliefs, and our judgments to open our hearts and share the love you breathed. Humans sometimes are not wise enough to feel the connection all sentient beings share by virtue of the life God has given us, and the loving presence we can bring into our relations. Your little heart never stopped trying to spread love, and you loved unlike most humans, with eyes that never lied. I will never forget how you would poke me from behind when I was forgetting to pay more attention to you, reminding me of the love and fun I could be sharing with you. Thank you for always pushing your way in between your Momma and I whenever she and I embraced. I know you were not only reminding us to include you in our love, but that we had your approval and insistence to love each other as much as and as often as we can. Thank you for your undying presence and joy to live life fully without regrets. You taught me how to be more fully present and not squander my time on unimportant matters. I love you my sweet baby. I was always so proud of you, the best boy any Poppa could hope for.

I am reminded of the poem below by little Mattie J. T. Stepanek, a young boy who died way too early and knew only too well about sadness and loss. He was very wise, way beyond his years. He had a lot to teach the world about the beauty and power of love, and the virtues of living life with greater presence.

Timeless Existence

It is nice when people
Notice you are present, but
It is important when people
Notice you are absent.
It is said that "absence
Makes the heart grow fonder."
We should rather that "presence
Makes the heart grow fondest."
Then, even when we are
Gone into our future,
We still live in
The present of our past.