Waiting at the Gate

I explained to St. Peter
I’d rather stay here
Just outside the Pearly Gate.
I won’t be a nuisance,
I won’t even bark,
I’ll be very patient and wait.

I’ll be right here chewing
A celestial bone
No matter how long you may be.
‘Cause I’d miss you too much,
If I went in alone–
It wouldn’t be heaven for me.

– Author Unknown –

Four Feet in Heaven

Your favorite chair is vacant now…
No eager purrs to greet me.
No softly padded paws to run
Ecstatically to meet me.

No coaxing rubs, no plaintive cry
Will say it’s time for feeding.
I’ve put away your bowl, and all
The things you won’t be needing;

But I will miss you little friend,
For I could never measure
The happiness you brought me,
The comfort and the pleasure.

And since God put you here to share
In earthly joy and sorrow;
I’m sure there’ll be a place for you
In Heaven’s bright tomorrow…

by Alice E. Chase

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~

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

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.