Don’t Grieve for Me
(Author Unknown)

Don’t grieve for me, for now I am free.
I’m following paths God made for me
I took his hand, I heard him call…
Then turned, and bid farewell to all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to sing, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found my peace…at close of day.

And if my parting left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened…deep with sorrow,
I wish you sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full…I’ve savored much.
Good friends, good times…a loved ones touch

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wants me now…He set me free!

Poem for Loss
by Josie O’Brien

My darling as I hold you near,
my heart is aching so.
I know that you must go away.
It is something we both know.

Acceptance is the hardest part
of knowing I’ll remain.
For I know that when you’re free at last,
I will cry with heartfelt pain.

Each memory has been traced with love
deep within my heart.
I never dreamed the day would come
When we would be apart.

For as I hold you in my arms
and whisper our last goodbye,
I’ll cherish every memory
until the day I die.

For when my soul is released and free,
I’ll come to you, my friend.
And the love we share will once again
be eternal; with no end.

Rainbow Bridge

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 ….

A Dog for Jesus
(Where dogs go when they die)

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.

With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master’s Heart.
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it’s delight,
For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine,
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
Knowing they’re in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, “Wait, I’m coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

by: Rudyard Kipling

Lend Me A Pet

I will lend to you for awhile a pet, God said,
For you to love him while he lives
and mourn for him when he is gone.

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three.
But will you, till I call him back take care of him for me?

He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and (should his stay be brief)
you’ll always have his memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise that he will stay, since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught below I want this pet to learn.

I’ve looked the whole world over in search of teachers true.
And from the folk that crowd life’s land I have chosen YOU.

Now, will you give him all your love?
Nor think the labor vain?
Nor hate me when I come to take my pet back again?

I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord Thy Will Be Done,”
For all the joys this pet will bring, the risk of grief you’ll run.

Will you shelter him with tenderness?
Will you love him while you may?
And for the happiness you’ll know forever stay.

But should I call him back much sooner than you’ve planned,
Please brave the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.

If, by your love, you’ve managed my wishes to achieve,
In memory of him that you’ve loved,

cherish every moment with your faithful bundle,
and know HE loved you too.

~author unknown~

THE GIFT

Eyes fearful, paws worn
A sorrowful sight
So forlorn

Love they said would be the cure
For the suffering
You had endured

So our family grew that day
We brought you home
With us you’d stay

Slowly, gently the bond it grew
Faithful, loyal
Loving, true

Looking back it’s so unclear
How we got by
Without you here

Trusted companion,
devoted friend
You give and give
It never ends

They said we were a gift to you
But now we know
Who rescued who

~ by J.M. BERRY ~

Do Dogs Go To Heaven?

My little bully passed away, no more to breathe a sound.
I held him for the last time, then entombed him in the ground.
Day and night I wept so much, in tears I thought I’d drown.
I searched my soul for comfort, but no peace therein was found.

In great despair, I hit my knees and then began to pray.
“Father will I ever see, my dog again someday?”
I raised my eyes and saw an angel standing near a gate.
I sensed an inner peace I’d never felt before that day.

The angel smiled and said to me, “Oh man of little faith!
God sees every bird that falls; He knows your bully’s fate.
I have met your little dog, I saw him pass my way.
Your precious dog is still alive; he just walked through this gate.

Paradise is lovelier than you can comprehend.
No pain or grief, no tears or fears, and life will have no end.
God gave to man His only Son, to cover all his sins.
So why would God withhold from you, your pure and loving friend?”

The angel took me by the hand and said, “Now come with me.
A glimpse of paradise I’ll give, to you so you can see.”
Through the gate and o’er the Rainbow Bridge we did proceed.
Through green valleys filled with flowers, rolling hills and trees.

“Wow, so this is paradise!” The place was filled with joy.
I saw my bully playing there, with dogs and cats and toys.
He also had some doggie treats, and food that he enjoyed.
He’d made a lot of new friends there, including girls and boys.

Then I saw a child come near, and hug my little mate.
She said to him, “I love you so,” and kissed him on the face.
The angel said, “The child just crossed the Rainbow Bridge today.
Now she needs a little friend, to love and help her play.

God’s love for her would be enough, in that make no mistake.
But in His love, He knew full well, the child would want a mate.
This is why God called your dog unto this splendid place.
God’s entrusted her with him, ‘til you pass through the gate.”

I pleaded, “May I hug them both?!” The angel answered, “No!
You’d violate a sacred site, and now it’s time to go.”
He led me back across the Bridge and through the gate to home.
He left me there with new-found hope and peace within my soul.

If someone ever asks what happens to a dog that dies,
Just give a gentle smile of joy and look them in the eye.
Take their hand and comfort them and tell them not to cry.
For dogs don’t die, they simply cross a bridge to paradise.

by: Dan Atcheson

Prayer For My Cat

Treat me kindly, dear master. Accord me the courtesy due to a cat — and I for my part will love you, amuse you and cheer your heart as only a cat can do.

Give me a sunny spot to sleep in when morning dawns and I will warm your lap on cold evenings.

Respect my independence and my need to walk alone at times and I will look after myself, so that you may come and go as you please.

Speak to me in our secret kitty language, let me hear my name sung in the music of your voice, and I will meow happily in sweet harmony with you.

Stroke my fur gently and lovingly and I will soothe you with the soft purrs that can only come from a happy cat.

Indulge my curiosity and I will show you the joys of bird watching, star gazing and other kitty pleasures.

Play with me and see me rejoice! Toss a humble ball of yarn and I will delight you with my cleverness and acrobatic leaps.

But do not laugh at me or allow me to be teased for there is nothing I prize more than my dignity.

Keep my surroundings neat and clean and I will be fastidious in my habits.

Feed me and be fair and I will teach you how to tell “kitty time” by instinct and tummy tunes.

And when I am old and the time comes to say farewell, hold me gently in your arms and I will go without a whimper.

For with you I am trusting, safe and secure. A cat who walked alone but loved you with a full and happy heart.

The Little Dog Angel

High up in the courts of Heaven today
A little dog angel waits;
With the other angels he will not play,
But sits alone at the gates;
“For I know that my master will come, ” says he,
“And when he comes he will call for me.”

He sees the Spirits that pass him by
As they hurry to the Throne,
And he watches them with a wistful eye
As he sits at the gates alone.
“For I know my master will come for me
If only I just wait patiently.”

And his master, far on the earth below,
As he sits in his easy chair,
Forgets sometimes, and he whistles low
For the dog that is not there.
And the little dog angel cocks his ears
And dreams that his master’s call he hears.

And I know, when at last his master waits,
Outside in the dark and cold,
For the hand of Death to open the gates
That lead to these courts of gold,
The little dog angel’s eager bark
Will comfort his soul in the shivering dark.

- Nora M. Holland

Read Ecclesiastes Chapter 3: Verses 18-19-20

A Dog’s Prayer

Oh! Lord of Humans, make my master
faithful to his fellowman as I am to him.

Grant that he may be as devoted to his
family and friends as I am to him.

May he be open faced and undecptive as I am;
may he be true to trust reposed in him as
I am to his.

Give him a face cheerful like
unto my wagging tail; give him a spirit of
gratitude like unto my licking tongue.

Fill him with patience like unto mine that
awaits for his foot steps uncomplainingly
for hours; fill him with my watchfulness,
my courage, and my readiness to sacrifice
comfort or life.

Keep him always young in heart and crowded
with the spirit of play even as I.

Make him as good a man as I am a dog;
make him worthy of me

HIS DOG.