Wednesday, June 11, 2008

A Dog's Purpose....

We will have had Ben for a year on June 25th. I remember when we brought him home, he seemed like he was part of the family immediately. We love him and he is very much a part of our family. He loves us unconditionally, and is always there for us. My friend sent me this little story about a dog's purpose (in the eyes of a 6 year old). I found it to be a wonderful story and thought I'd share it with you. (It's long....)


Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a mira cle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.' Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Stop when you have had enough. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Be always grateful for each new day Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles: May joy dance in your soul, may love fill your heart and may peace reign in your home.

PRICELESS!

7 comments:

Denise Mall said...

Thanks for sharing! Love it! So true, I could picture my dog doing each thing and for some reason it made everything in life seem so clear.

True living comes from not worrying about tomorrow. Be in the moment!

CT Mom said...

=Sniff= Thank you for this - Jasmine turns 6 on Friday and she embodies all these things.

We just love her, like you love your Ben!

Meg said...

I can't take the sentimental things right now! *Sniff* This embodies all the reasons why I absolutely love dogs, I only wish my husband would let me get one now... (Especially since I could get a puppy now that would be well trained by the time he comes home. He seemed to only complain about the puppy stage.)

Canadian Saver said...

That is so true!! I love that, I'm going to send to my friends who love pets too!

Anonymous said...

I love this! Thanks for sharing!

Scrumpy said...

Congratulations... After all of the blog posts I've ever read, this is the first one that made me cry! Wonderful little story.

Sharon said...

Awwwww, didn't mean for anyone to cry! But it does remind you to live each day to its' fullest! Thanks for all the comments! :)