Your Dying Spouse 697 - Losses {FMF}

It's a season of loss.

Barb's Da passed away lat month, after a long illness.

Her Belen Family, Caryn and Robert, will be moving to Houston in the next few weeks.

And last weekend was a bit trying; two of my three service dogs died, within 20 hours of one another.

Sylvia, the face' of this blog, went first. She had been ill, and her death was not unexpected. Chris, the yellow Lab who was 'the adult in the room', died soon after, of a broken heart.

They were both quite old for large dogs, about fourteen.

I'd like to think they enjoyed their lives with us; I am grateful that they were here, and look forward to seeing them again soon, for how could heaven be heaven otherwise?

These were the dogs that saved my life, doing canine CPR. They weren't taught; when I stopped breathing they decided that I should not die. If you'd like to read about that (and see a short video of what it looks like, please click here.)

One might question God's motives, and ask Why...but that is the one thing we cannot do, for to question is to doubt, and to doubt is to reject His Love.

Still hurts, though.

For Sylvia

All the years of service, done;

where once was laughter, now no sound.

All too soon your race is run

and we must lay you in the ground.

I hope you know the part you played

helped keep my heart and soul afloat,

helped keep my faith when I prayed,

helped keep my prayers from being rote.

Now you run in boundless open air,

with clouds for snowbanks, never cold,

and one day soon I'll join you there

for I hope I die before I'm old.

Watch for my home-return, dear friend,

and wait for me, around the bend.

                                                            

For Chris

I know that you were steadfast,

I know that you were true.

The best of times can never last;

you've gone ahead, on up the blue.

You followed everywhere I'd go,

you were always at my heels.

I'd work and rest with you in tow

and you sometimes ate my meals.

Even in your fragile age

you gave a shoulder of support,

to help me turn the sorrow'd page,

to love when I was hurt.

If God's divide is crossed by will

I'll hear your steady footfall still.

                                                               

Music from George Harrison, with All Those Years Ago.i

Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.

Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.

Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.