Nothing much to add to today's posting so I thought I'd close the day with some lovely thoughts and inspirations that have been sent to me or that I've acquired through the years.

I have been privileged to have known and loved some very special animals throughout my life and I think the little boy in this story has it exactly right.

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 there were no miracles left 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 the four-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.

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 four-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. Leave the
rest to God.

This is my dog, Bailey. He is a good and loyal friend and a wonderful companion. I hope he has enough to learn that he is with us to enjoy a long, healthy life.

And these are just some thoughts I find comforting.

When you come to the end of everything you know
And are faced with the darkness of the unknown,
Faith is knowing one of two things will happen.
Either there will be something solid for you to stand on,
Or you will be taught how to fly.

We must be willing to get rid of
the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
The old skin has to be shed
before the new one can come.

Joseph Campbell

Though no-one can go back
and make a brand new start,
anyone can start from now
and make a brand new end.

~ Author Unknown ~

When one door closes, another opens;
but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door
that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
~

Alexander Graham Bell ~