For as long as I can…

No one wanted the older dog
But you brought me homeThankful
for the time we’ll share
And I will be grateful to you for as long as I can.

My face is whiter now and I’m not so limber
But you are patient
Taking it easy and slow
And I will walk with you for as long as I can.

You’ll never know about my world “before”
But that’s okay, because the rest of my life
Will be spent at your side
And I will stay with you for as long as I can.

My eyes tell the story
Of love lost and found
Safe at last, I lay happily at your feet
And I will be your friend for as long as I can.

Time knows no reason
But hearts know no bounds
We were meant to be together
And I will love you for as long as I can.

(Judy Smith 2010)

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown…

The moment that you left me, my heart was split in two
One side was filled with memories
The other side died with you.
I often lay awake at night when the world is fast asleep
And take a walk down memory lane with tears upon my cheek.
Remembering you is easy, I do it everyday
But missing you is a heartache that never goes away.
I hold you tightly within my heart and there you will remain,
You see life has gone on without you, but will never be the same.

– Author unknown

“Until we meet again…”

I will never know what I did to deserve such an awful life full of abuse and neglect. My life had become so sad and lonely it was like living in an endless, dark tunnel. I remember looking up one day and seeing a bright light shining at the end of the tunnel. The light was so bright I thought that God must have sent an angel to finally end my suffering.

God did send an angel, he sent you. The bright light I had seen was your smiling face. You promised me that my days of neglect and abuse were over. My battered body and broken spirit hardly dared to believe it was true.

You opened your heart and your home and gave me more love and comfort and safety than I had ever known before. You gave me the softest bed my tired, aching bones had ever felt and more toys and attention than I had ever dreamed existed.

I no longer cringed when a hand was raised near me, because your hands had only kindness and treats to offer me. I no longer feared the sound of feet approaching, because your feet had never kicked me, they had only taken me on wonderful adventures to exciting new places.

Although “quantity” of time can be measured in days and weeks, there is no way to measure the “quality” of time. So there is no way to really measure just how deeply your love and devotion affected my life. But sometimes, even love & devotion and all the medical attention in the world can’t heal a body that has been battered and broken for too long.

So please do not be sad that I am gone. You performed a miracle in what little time we had together. You made my spirits soar and helped my soul find peace and contentment. From the day I met you I never suffered again, not even at the end.

Just knowing that my memory would live in your heart forever gave me the strength to let go and find my way to Rainbow Bridge. So go forward from today with only happy memories of me in your heart and let them give you the strength to keep on lighting up sad, lost lives.

Remember I will live forever in your heart and in the stars up above and my star will shine brighter with every life that’s touched by your love.

Author Unknown