Just Once More...
I don’t cry very often…but today I cried.
Today we said goodbye to a pet. One of our little Corgis apparently had a heart attack and was already gone by the time I woke up. He wasn’t super old, and just last night he seemed to be fine, running around and playing just like he always has. I don’t normally like dogs sleeping with me, but he was one I didn't mind doing so, especially since he liked to cuddle right next to me (expecting some petting of course before I fell asleep).
To make it even harder, in the middle of the night he was acting a little different, but I thought nothing of it and just put him outside the bedroom door. Perhaps I could’ve saved him if I had known he was not feeling well. At the least I could’ve been there to say goodbye and comforted him in his last few moments.
As I thought about this today all I wanted was one more day with him.
Just once more to feed him a corner of my peanut butter sandwich (he loves patiently waiting as I eat knowing he will get the last bite).
Just once more to throw him the tennis ball, watching him bark or go crazy over his favorite game (maybe he will bring it back, but if not I don’t mind walking over to grab it and throw it again).
Just once more to leave and have him see me off through our fence.
Just once more to have him lay down with me at night, putting his front paws on me like he is saying to me, “You’re my human”.
But unfortunately he’s gone.
A Lesson to Remember
Although he is “just a dog” there is an important lesson in this that we all too often forget. For those of us who are still young - or relatively young - we think that we, and those we love, will live forever. Death is not something we think about very often - and that’s probably good for the most part. At the same time though anybody - a friend, a family member - can be taken from us without warning.
I often think I should call an old friend, or take the time to visit a relative I haven’t seen in a while, or say “I love you” to those who mean a lot to me when I say goodbye. I also know I should never leave someone in anger. Yet too often I forget, or procrastinate, or let pride get in the way, always assuming I will see them tomorrow or the next day or at the latest before the end of the year. But we never know what the future holds for any of us.
My advice today: Treasure the moments you share with people. Find time to be with family and friends. Don’t delay a call to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Never leave or go to bed in anger towards someone close. Finally, always find a way to be filled with love for all your brothers and sisters.
You will never regret making the little sacrifices it takes to do this.
A Hopeful Thought
Although I am sad, at the same time it makes me happy to know he is running around endless fields or still bothering cats or bringing joy to people as he did my family. And as with all our loved ones, I know there will come a time when we will be reunited and never have to say goodbye again.
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