Gentle readers,
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." "When a dog barks at the moon, then it is religion; but when he barks at strangers, it is patriotism!"
The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.
A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death. ~ by Senator George Graham Vest
Dogs touch our lives in so many different ways. And I think it can be firmly stated that a dog truly is every man (woman & child's) best friend So was Paddy, (Patrick Tis Himself)Lhasa Apso Service Dog extra ordinaire, friend, companion, confidant, keeper of the sacred secrets of ministers life, personal trainer (when I didn’t want to exercise in the dead of night- winter time-). Paddy never meet a stranger who didn’t want to pet this grand little dog whose heart was too large to be contained. Paddy went out of his way to make friends with everyone, and they all went away saying, or thinking “I should get a dog, too”. There were nights when we walked together out on the country roads and cats came out and walked alongside as we spoke to the Lord about the dear saints around the world. Paddy lay at my feet as I worked on my studies and messages, which I would read to him for his comments and approval.
It was from Paddy that I learned Grace, and Patience and he reminded me of a song that I learned as a young believer ‘There’s a sweet sweet spirit in this place” and it wasn’t until I laid him down for the last time and I write this that the last line came to mind ... “And I know that’s it’s the Spirit of the Lord”. No man has had a better friend, no wonder that dog spelled backwards is god.
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....
No comments:
Post a Comment