Sunday, June 2, 2013

A DOG'S PURPOSE?

Got this in an email and enjoyed it! 


A  Dog's  Purpose
From a six year old.

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 miracle.

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. It has changed the way I try and live.

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.

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.



ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!


 

29 comments:

Mara said...

Beautiful!

Secret Agent Woman said...

Very sweet.

(We'll just leave out the part about pooping in other people's yards!)

MadSnapper said...

got what in the mail? the dogs or the poem? heh heh heh
all of this is good advice and the pictures make me smile...

Formerly known as Frau said...

Love this and so true! Have a great day!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

So sweet. Give Skye a hug from me!

TexWisGirl said...

they live in the moment.

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

I read this somewhere else a while back and I think it is wonderful! Oh, that we could figure it out as easily. Blessings!

Nani said...

Awesome! And from the collie I had growing up; Be kind to your neighbors and greet them, but always come back to your family. She would carefully cross our neighbors came home to say hi and then cross back again. For that and a gazillion other reasons she was an awesome dog!

Sharon said...

Oh Debby, how precious!

I have had the privilege of being deep, close friends with two dogs in my lifetime. Bo, the dachshund I grew up with, and Marty, my grandbeagle.

I can honestly say that they have touched my heart and my life in the most profound ways - they have taught me so much about love and about God.

GOD BLESS!

Empty Nester said...

Ok, I'm trying to comment but can't see the computer screen through the tears. I. LOVE. This. Absolutely!

nancygrayce said...

So sweet! I love all the pictures of Skye!!!

My dogs are such a comfort (most of the time) although Jack does nip at me once in a while! :)

Miss Debbie said...

Sweet post!

Cathy said...

Love it...what a great post!

Unknown said...

Such a lovely posting. The story about Belker made me weepy.

Yes, dogs know how to live. Lots of lessons to be learned.

Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo

Laura said...

Love it! I've heard that before! Have you seen this video... one of my favorites and I cry almost every time I watch it! <3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY

Chatty Crone said...

Oh I love your little Skye and Disco. And this is so true. I love it. Love fur babies - all they want to do is give love, sandie

LynnMarie said...

Great advise for us all and a great visual example as well.

Katherine said...

Brought tears to my eyes!

Decadent Housewife said...

What great lessons!

The Boston Lady said...

Debby,

This made my day! So sweet and so true, all of it. Hope you had a nice long weekend. Ann

Heart2Heart said...

I absolutely LOVED this post. It reminds me that even though I'm a huge cat lover, there is something about being with a dog that reaches deep down inside your heart.

I think I need to get me a puppy to share our home with. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Tami said...

Beautiful! Got me all teared up. :) I hope you don't mind if I borrow this. It's such good advice for life.

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Debby I love reading your post tonight so much. It's amazing how children are so insightful of things that take most of us our lives to figure out.
So glad I came by tonight.
I hope your doing well
Love
Maggie

Stephanie said...

We lost our almost 13 year old lab this winter and now I sit here with tears rolling down my face. That sweet little boy was so right.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I read this book a couple of months ago. It was great.

Hilary said...

love it!

Kristie said...

That is just too sweet! Great pictures to go along with it too!! :-)

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Oh goodness how sweet and those photos are just too precious!!

Cyndy Bush said...

This made me tear up.
I have been blessed to have some wonderful dogs in my life who touched my heart, and the latest one is Bo, my sweet bulldog. Dogs are wonderful creatures.

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
Southern California, United States
Follow Just Breathe

Labels

Wednesday Hodgepodge (557) Family (241) Birthdays (160) Vacation (138) Funny (131) Tuesday 4 Meme (127) Tuesday 4 (104) James (101) Skye (99) Post It (95) Movies (89) Christmas (67) JP (61) Random (40) Award (39) Florida (32) Easter (29) Health (29) Thanksgiving (28) Flowers (23) Mother's Day (20) Vegas (20) tag (20) Father's Day (19) God (19) My Dad (19) Ornaments (19) Friend (18) Anniversary (17) Europe (17) Friday Fragments (17) I've Got Nothing (17) New Year (17) Halloween (16) Chicago (15) Meet Me on Monday (15) Oscars (15) 4th of July (14) Doctor (14) Friday Fill-In (14) Mammoth Lakes (14) Sky (14) VALENTINE'S DAY (14) Debby's Tree (13) For Your Tears (13) Montana (13) Giveaway (12) House (12) Recipes (12) 9/11 (11) Memorial Day (11) Paris (11) This or That (11) Wedding (11) Asthma (10) Bake (10) Carlsbad (10) Holiday (9) Just Because (9) Labor Day (9) Love (9) Rainbow (9) Shopping (9) Sick (9) Disney World (8) Round Robin (8) Veterans Day (8) Fat Ass Friday (7) Frustration (7) London (7) Mark (7) Plants (7) heart (7) 2011 (6) Apples (6) Birthday (6) Christmas Tree (6) Disneyland (6) Fall (6) Houston (6) Loss (6) Miscellaneous (6) PINTEREST (6) Pictures (6) Prayer (6) Thankful (6) Video (6) bowling (6) Car (5) Change (5) Company (5) Earth Day (5) Following (5) Help (5) One Word (5) Pittsburgh (5) Princess Diana (5) Quiz (5) Spring (5) Sundays In My City (5) Super Bowl (5) The Flower Fields (5) Time (5) Wizard of Oz (5) 2 on Tuesday (4) Blogiversary (4) Breast Cancer Awareness (4) COVID-19 (4) Christmas 2012 (4) Christmas 2013 (4) Christmas 2015 (4) Down (4) Grandparents (4) Housework (4) Memory Monday (4) Monday Smiles (4) Murphy's Law (4) On Our Way (4) Remembrance (4) Wine (4) AMERICAN IDOL (3) Blog (3) Cats and Dogs (3) Christmas 2020 (3) Christmas 2021 (3) Clouds (3) Crockpot (3) Dogs (3) Don't grow old (3) Fire (3) Food (3) Gift (3) In Memoriam (3) Italy (3) La Jolla (3) Ladybug (3) May Day (3) Movie (3) Moving in (3) Museum (3) NO-REPLY (3) New York (3) Pizza (3) Reader (3) Royal Wedding (3) San Diego Zoo (3) Signs (3) St.Patrick's Day (3) Summer (3) Weight (3) star (3) 2010 (2) Anxiety (2) Babysitting (2) Big Brother (2) Bodie (2) Bristlecone (2) Bucket List (2) Christmas 2014 (2) Christmas 2017 (2) Christmas 2018 (2) Christmas 2022 (2) Christmas 2023 (2) Cowboy (2) Deer (2) Fishing (2) Five Questions (2) Friday Foto Friends (2) Full Moon (2) Goals (2) Graduations (2) Hallmark (2) Heavyhearted (2) Jack's Tree (2) Jay's Gourmet (2) Knee Replacement (2) Leaves (2) Less is More (2) MAYDAY (2) Meme (2) Mini Cooper (2) Mission Inn (2) Mojo (2) Mountains (2) NYC (2) Old Age (2) Ouch (2) Out to Live (2) Party (2) Potluck (2) Presents (2) Purchased (2) Ranunculus (2) Robot (2) Royal Baby (2) Safari Park (2) Show and Tell (2) Simplify (2) Slap me (2) Snow (2) Sorrow (2) Stranger (2) TBB Asks (2) Tears (2) Things to do (2) Trees (2) Weekend Wrap-Up (2) Wilson Winery (2) '09 card exchange (1) 000 (1) 2016 (1) 2020 (1) 3 On Thursday (1) 48 Questions (1) All My Children (1) Always something (1) Ankle (1) Antiques (1) Aria (1) Bath (1) Billy Elliot (1) Bird (1) Bra (1) Brookfield Zoo (1) COPD (1) Call the Midwife (1) Candles (1) Celebration (1) Chairs (1) Christmas '09 (1) Christmas 2016 (1) Christmas 2019 (1) Church (1) Citizens arrest (1) City lights (1) Clocks (1) Cows (1) DMV (1) DVD (1) Discombobulated (1) Donations (1) Downton Abbey (1) F.Y.I. (1) Fair (1) Farmers Market (1) Favorite Things (1) Featured (1) Finley (1) Flag Day (1) Football (1) Getty (1) Giving (1) Good Morning (1) Grandson (1) Grapes (1) Happy New Year (1) Hoover Dam (1) Horseback Riding (1) IKEA (1) Idol (1) Idyllwild (1) Independence Day (1) Jesus (1) Joshua Tree National Park (1) Julian Bakery (1) June (1) LaJolla (1) Lavender Festival (1) Lifetime (1) Lost (1) Low Carb Treats (1) Madness (1) Mellow Yellow Monday (1) Moment of Silence (1) Music (1) Nana (1) Negative (1) Nipples (1) Nobody Is Home (1) Note Book Journey (1) Nurses (1) Oak Glen (1) One Word 2022 (1) One of those days (1) Owls (1) PT (1) Pinecones (1) Playing Hooky (1) Post 1 (1) President (1) Pretty in Pink (1) Puppy (1) Queen Mary (1) Quick Takes (1) Randomness (1) Regrets (1) Ringling (1) Rock/Hard Place (1) Roosters (1) Route 66 (1) SOS (1) Sale (1) Salt and Pepper Shakers (1) San Diego Harbor (1) Saturday 9 (1) She Loves Me (1) Silver Lining (1) Snail Mail (1) Spam (1) Speak English (1) Spider (1) Spin Cycle (1) Stamps (1) Stars (1) Stoned (1) Summer Lovin' (1) Sunday Stealing (1) Sunset (1) Surprise (1) Survey (1) Swim (1) TBT (1) TP (1) Temecula CA (1) Templates (1) Thank You (1) The Getty Villa (1) The Sistine Chapel (1) Time Out (1) Treasures (1) Trends (1) Trying. Something New (1) Twilight Saga (1) Two On Tuesday (1) USA (1) VOTE 2012 (1) Wicked (1) Willow Tree (1) Windsor Tea (1) Winner (1) Worldwide Candle Lighting (1) Zoo (1) button (1) closet (1) cottage (1) digging (1) handkerchief (1) karma (1) memory (1) tests (1) webkinz (1)