Oh, Lord, how I thank you for that very special day, July 30, 2000, when you decided to entrust one of your brightest, smartest, and most beautiful furbabies to me. I was so unworthy of such a remarkable gift. I knew he was just a loan, but oh how that gorgeous, tiny, gold and white Shih Tzu puppy stole my heart.

My husband gave him such a commom name, Buddy, but it was so appropriate for him. He was the best buddy I've ever had. We went through thick and thin together over the years and he was always by my side through it all.

Then came the time when he needed me so much. His little body was giving out and his heart was failing him fast. He had so many health issues, Lord. So futile were all the medicines I stuffed down his throat that last year in a desperate attempt to save him and to keep him with me, and all the prayers I sent up to you for his healing were to no avail.

On January 12, 2012, after 11 years, 9 months, and 23 days on this earth, you said enough to his pain and called your precious angel back to his eternal home. The darkest day of my life was when that terrible congestive heart failure won and I had to help end my best friend's suffering. Oh, Lord, how it hurt.

Now almost two years later, I'm sitting here at 2AM with tears streaming down my cheeks as I look at his sweet, angelic face in the hundreds of photographs I have of him. There are so many smiles among the tears, too, as I remember all the fantastic, unforgetable times we shared together.

His remains are always close by me in a place of honor in the beautiful urn I bought for him. They're just waiting for the day when you will reunite them with his immmortal spirit. Yes, Lord, it still hurts, and my heart is still so empty.

However, Lord, there is a silver lining in all this sorrow. I know my Buddy, and all the other pets I've ever had, are back home with you now, forever pain free.

Thank you, Lord, for sending his sweet, innocent spirit back to me the night after he went home. He came back just to say, "So long for a little while, Mom. I'm just fine now!" Those fleeting seconds were the most blessed thing you could have done to comfort me in the depths of my horrendous grief. I know beyond a doubt that you do take perfect care of your priceless animal creation.

Thank you for your promise in your word that I can spend eternity with you and all my precious furbabies. Thank you, my awesome Lord and Savior, for your undying love and mercy, and for your precious healing grace in times of unbearable tragedy.

One more prayer, Lord. Please send me another furbaby. I'm ready now. Give me those special ones - the ones no one else wants - the ones like Buddy. I've learned that all their unconditional love and devotion is definitely worth the possibility of heartbreak in the future.

Hug my Buddy for me, Lord, until I can do it again myself. Thank you, Lord, for all those precious years you gave him and for all the valuable lessons of love he taught me. He was SO brave through all his struggles. He was in terrible pain, but he still showed his love for me everyday. Watching him suffer so much was almost more than I could stand. I still don't know why he had to endure it all, but I'm sure someday you will tell me. THANK YOU!!

To Buddy from your mom -
Til we meet again at Rainbow Bridge, know that I will always love you, my special Buddy. You are my once in a lifetime treasure. You will always have your mom's heart. So long for a little while, my forever furbaby angel. Oh, how I still miss you so much.