Letter to my Jordy

Hi sweetheart. Its so hard to type through the tears. But I wanted to tell you one more time how much I love you and how much joy you brought to me for a few short months. I miss you so. You were the best behaved baby I had. I miss you laying by my head at night. I finally got use to your breathing heavy due to you old lungs & now its too quiet.

You had the softest silkiest fur of any dog I have ever seen. I loved to pet you. And you were such a dream to give a bath, a pill, whatever, you would just stand there & let me do whatever needed to be done.

I remember the first snow we had- I put you all out & you stopped dead in your tracks & turned around & looked at me with the stupidest look. I said get out there & then it hit me. You were from Georgia & probably never saw snow. I laughed & took you out & put you in it. You finally got use to it- I don't think you liked it but you were a good boy and would go out.

You loved going to the adoptathons. You had a ball. Once you fell in love with a little cocker & followed her everywhere. You wanted to say hello to everyone & every dog. Then on the way home you would lay on the back seat & snore. The first time I stopped my car I thought it was my engine. I never heard such a noise. I laughed so hard when I realized it was you.

I am so sorry sweetheart I wanted to get you a forever home sooo bad. One where you were the only baby with an older couple that would sit on the couch with you and go for walks. That was my dream for you but it didn't happen. No one wanted an old dog. No one that is but me. I would have cried when you left but would have been happy that you had you own family to love you with all their heart. I tried so hard but I guess God knew you were going home soon and he just wanted you to stay with me for a while & give me love.

You loved carrots. It's hard now for me to mix the food at night as when I add carrots I think of you and I wish you were here to have some. I will probably think of you every time I see a carrot for the rest of my life.

No one will ever know how much joy you brought into my life & how empty it feels since you left.

You had problems ever since you came - first with the yeast infection I had to bathe you every other day for weeks & put stuff on you & your ears - infections. Finally we got rid of it & then it came back. And of course you lungs were bad we knew that & you had an enlarged heart. I guess we were fighting a losing battle with you. But we tried. Furry Friends was so patient with all your problems and never refused you any treatment. They really cared about you too Jordy. Everyone who met you loved you. You couldn't help it when you looked at them with those Big Beautiful Brown eyes.

You weren't just a foster - know that - you were special & I loved you like my own. I will always love you Jordy. And one day I will see you again. You and my other babies all in Heaven. Wait for me as you are part of my family.

You will always be a shining star!

Goodnight my precious little foster who I loved like my own.

Love, Mommie

 

Dear Lord

Thank You for bringing this foster dog into my life.

Had I not made the decision to participate in rescue, I would never have had the chance to meet him. If I had sat here comfortably in my home and said "I already have two dogs and I know that I couldn't take in another - even on a temporary basis," I would never have met this dog.

Yes, it takes time to rescue and foster... but who gave me Time in the first place? And why or what was the reason I was given Time? To fill my own needs? Or was there another reason ever so small and seemingly insignificant, like rescuing this one dog, that could make a difference in another's life? Perhaps to add joy, hope, help and companionship to another who is in need?

With great sadness, I sat down on a footstool in my kitchen this morning and watched as this foster dog bounced back into the house and skidded across the floor to sit ever so perfectly in front of me. He was the picture of health, finally. He was all smiles for me.... and I smiled back at his happy face. Deep in his eyes, the storm clouds of illness and generalized poor health had blown away, and the clear light of his perfection radiated out from his beautiful soul. He holds no ill will toward man. He forgives us all.

I thought to myself as I impressed this one last long look of him into my heart, what a very fine creature you have created. Tears slowly pooled and spilled over my cheekbones as the deeper realization of how wonderful this dog is sank into my internal file cabinet of Needful Things to Remember. Lord, he's a dog - but he's a better human being than I am.

He forgives quickly. Would I do the same?
He passionately enjoys the simple things in life. And I have often overlooked them. He accepts change and gets on with his life. I fuss and worry about change. He lives today and loves today. And I often dwell in the past or worry about the future. He loves no matter what. I am not that free.

This very lovely dog has gone to his new home today and already I miss him. Thank You for bringing this dog into my life. And thank You for the beautiful and tender lesson on how to be a better human.

Author Unknown

THERE IS A NEW STAR SHINING IN THE SKY TONIGHT ...

There is an old belief that the stars shining in the night sky are the spirits of those who have died. They have shed their earthly bodies and exchanged them for bodies made of light; thousands upon thousands of our dear departed friends all promoted to glory in the night sky. There is another saying that the brightest flame burns the shortest.

My friend, you were the brightest star in my own universe. While I burn on, my flame dimmed by grief and despair at your passing, the stars are watching me. They are too far away for me to touch, just as you have gone somewhere I cannot follow until my own star-time comes. They cannot be held close for comfort, just as I can no longer hold you close, though I held you close to comfort you in your final hours. We were together for such a short time, but the stars will burn forever.

One day I will grow tired of this earthbound body, my own star-time will come and my spirit will soar into the sky to burn with all those friends who have gone before me. On the inky cloth of space we will be reunited in constellations of joy. Until then, my flame burns low and dim and cold without you. Through my tears I look upwards to see if you are watching me and what do I see?

There is a new star shining in the sky tonight.

(There Is A new Star …was written by Sarah Hartwell. She has released this into the public domain so that it may be freely distributed.)