Inspirational Poems 3

Welcome to Adopt A Pet

"Inspirational Poems 3"

In Memory of Moe

This Page is Dedicated to
Moe Tooley.....
and All the Beloved Pets who Are Waiting For Us
At Rainbow Bridge
I pray that you will find comfort here
In your time of grief.

Oh God, my master,
should I gain the grace
to see thee face to face
when life is ended,
grant that a little dog who once pretended
that I was God,
might see me face to face.

DECISION TIME

He rubbed her forehead gently, there was nothing else to do.
"I know it's hard," he said to us, "But it is up to you.
I've seen it many times before, and I ran all the tests.
The only thing that I can say is that it's for the best."

Our hearts were breaking at that moment, how were we to know,
The pain would make us this intense because we loved her so.
My children cried to think of her not ever going home,
But it was a decision that I had to make alone.

Our lives would never be the same without her being there,
My little one was crying and kept saying, "It's not fair."
My older ones were trying, to hold back their pain and tears.
But what I had to do and say had been one of my greatest fears.

The doctor was patient for my answer, as I hesitated,
He even looked as if he felt the pain there as he waited.
It's never easy when you have to make this kind of choice,
But I began to speak to him while choking on my voice.

"As far as doctors go," I said, "I have such faith in you.
I know that what you're saying is so absolutely true.
I know that you love all your patients and you really care,
Whenever we have needed help you've always been right there.

"But as you know it hurts so much, and we love her so.
We always knew a time would come when she would have to go.
She always showed her overwhelming love to all of us,
And in return, loved our attention whenever we made a fuss.

"I know that as a doctor you have done all that you can,
And I know the pain we feel you more than understand.
I have seen it in the past and always it's the same,
You care about your patients and really feel their pain."

So there upon the linen sheet I gazed into her eyes,
I could tell she was in pain -- more than I realized.
She looked at me so pitifully. She seemed to really know.
I could almost feel her say, "I really need to go."

Some people will not understand how tragic this can be,
And some will never understand the pain that's now in me.
Many cannot comprehend how this can make you weep,
Unless you've had to tell your "Vet" to put your pet to sleep.

~James "PoppyK" Kisner~

JESSIE THE FAITHFUL

He lays on the floor at the top of the stairs
Looking all sad and alone.
Waiting, so patient, his heart filled with hope,
Almost "praying" his master home.

He's not terribly bright, and he's clumsy in deed,
And God knows he was large from the start;
But his doggie devotion, so faithful and true,
Proves that this doggie has heart.

He's a "Heinz 57," with a little of this,
And a whole lot 'o' little 'o' that!
He's a heeler, and shepherd, and pinch of a Lab,
And perhaps just a bit of a cat!

He was tossed with his 'sibs' on the side of the road,
Unwanted, unneeded and scared.
He was rescued and crated and mostly ignored.
Of love, he was never aware.

I'm sure there was One looking out for this dog Who knew we'd be caught unawares,
And obtain this shivering, ghost of a dog,
Too frightened to climb up the stairs.

With issues of food and space and size,
Aggressive and crippled with fears,
I'm amazed at how far this "fear biter" has come
In just a couple of years.

He has learned to be gentle with me and my cats,
And with my Happy Dog, too;
And if you speak softly and move very slow,
He'll even be gentle with you.

I suppose he's worth little to some in this world,
But with Jessie I never will part;
For his faithful wait at the top of the stairs
Has truly stolen my heart.

~Jaye Lewis~

FATHER OF ALL SHEPHERDS

Father of all shepherds,
I ask naught of you for me,
but I grow old and frail,
a faithful collie at my knee.

He never did a wrong thing,
He obeyed my every call,
He tended flocks and guarded,
Just we three, shepherds all.

Surely, in your mercy,
You can find it in your heart,
To send one who'll care for him,
After this life I depart?

* * * *

Father of all shepherds,
My master lies within,
By his crypt I'll hold vigil,
On his coffin I'll rest my chin.

His shepherd's plaid cast over,
His soul with you resides,
For many years I protected him,
But I could not stem Death's tide.

Please care for him, I beg you,
He was a good man who loved me well,
Until I cross those heavenly meadows,
And with him for eternity dwell.

~Jim Willis~

A PET

Funny, when we sit and count all the ways
our good Lord chooses to bless our long days.
Sometimes a letter, and sometimes a friend;
sometimes a stranger ... sometimes a hurt's end.

There are times when He chooses to set our pain free,
and other times, too, when He allows us to see.
He uses so many ways, but I'm willing to bet
one precious way is by way of a pet!

Through trusting, loving eyes from man's own best friend
we find day long love ... from beginning to end.
Though often we stumble the path of life's way,
unconditional love is given each day
from that canine member of our Christian home,
as she protectively follows us - from room to room.
And, attentively feeling or seeing a tear,
that loving pet will loyally draw near.

Though men of the world would beat and abuse
a pet - not knowing the blessing they lose.
But, children of God know joys that are true...
God uses that pet to richly bless you!

So, cuddle that dog, give her plenty of love;
she's a messenger of peace from our Father above.

~Lori Anton~

The Animals' Savior

Copyright Jim Willis 1999

I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...
the cast-offs of human society.
I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread,
sadness and betrayal.
And I was angry.
"God," I said, "this is terrible!
Why don't you do something?"
God was silent for a moment and then
He spoke softly.
"I have done something," He replied.
"I created You."

A Dog For Jesus

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.

And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn
How happy He would have been
As His dog kissed His hands and barked its delight
For The One who died for all men.

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.

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, "I am coming with you!"
And trotted along behind.

~ Rudyard Kipling ~

A SLICE OF HEAVEN

When man became aware of good and bad, of heaven and hell, of darkness and light, he questioned God.

"What is heaven like, God?

God sat down with man, in a quaint little garden, took in a big breath, and explained what heaven was like to man. Barely breathing, man watched -- enraptured, not interrupting.

When God had finished with his description, man dropped his arms down at his sides, shook his head and mumbled, "It is all so grand and beyond anything I have here to compare. I cannot envision the place of which you speak."

With a perplexed look on his countenance and fearing he had disappointed God, man hung his head and moisture collected in his eyes. God stood up, wiped debris from the back of his garment, and walked over to man. He laid a hand on man's shoulder and said He was sorry He had not been able to convey the glorious nature of heaven. Feeling disheartened that he had let his creation down, God turned and walked away from man.

Man did not move. He still sat there, head hanging down, arms at his sides. And a tear rolled off each cheek and fell to the earth below the boy.

You see, this human was yet a boy. Not the man he would become. While understanding came easily to the boy, more so than it might to an adult, the boy still needed a frame of reference when learning about the more abstract concepts -- especially ones that required a great deal of faith.

Several yards away from the boy, God paused. A smile sketched across His face. The boy did not notice that God had stopped.

God held out his left arm, thrust his palm out and grinned. He was still facing away from the boy. God heard the boy sob, then God nodded to Himself, He said, "Here, lad, is something that will best express to you what is most wondrous about heaven. And here, also, is a bright light, contained within this vessel. No matter how dark your world, no matter how abysmal your thoughts, no matter how long the nights -- the illumination contained within this receptacle will shatter the blackest black. This creation of mine will remain at your side through the lowest and the highest moments of your life. This creation embodies the virtues of heaven and all the joys.

He turned back toward the boy, left arm extended.
"Here," He whispered softly, "a slice of heaven. Now, you will understand!"

A sparkling dust gathered and swirled from the tips of God's hand. It became substance, then bounded off, toward the boy. God canted his head and watched, pleased with Himself. Knowing the boy would wonder no more about what heaven was like.

Gazing down at the soil beneath his feet, the boy saw a shadow fast approaching, lopping straight for him. Before he could stand to flee, a pink tongue flicked across his fingers. A bushy tail thumped against his legs. And a mouth full of white teeth smiled up at him. Soft ears flopped back as the creature stared up into the boy's eyes.

A private communication was exchanged between the boy and the creature. The boy giggled, bent down, and swept the animal up into his arms.

"He is a living mirror of heaven, and therefore, a mirror of Me. Out of a great affection for the creature that reflects back so much of what heaven is, and in so doing, reflects back so much of what I am, I have named him dog. Treat him well, for no other will be as true to you, nor teach you as much as this one small creature will."

~Kathy Anne Harris~

RESCUED HEARTS

Taking care of rescue dogs
Is something I do best.
I know because I've done it,
And I've surely passed the test.

The dogs I've bathed, the food I've fed,
The vacuuming I've done,
And all to watch a frightened soul
Sit dreaming in the sun.

My own dogs I've neglected,
But I tell them everyday
That I love and cherish each of them
Though a new dog's come to stay.

I know they understand this,
For in their eyes I see
The love that I have given them
Come shining back at me.

Some people think I'm crazy,
Some others think I'm great.
But very few can understand
What really is at stake.

If I can love and help a dog
To find a better way,
My own life is much richer,
I look forward to each day.

So now you know my secret,
It's there for all to see,
The love I give, the life I save,
I do it all for me.

~Kathleen Parsons~

THE FAMILY DOG
The family's dog was bought to guard,
Chained to a post in a chilly backyard,
House in a shed that was airless and dark,
And every few weeks had a run in the park.

When boredom set in with no fun and no work,
One day it broke loose and went quietly berserk,
Pa couldn't fathom just why it went wild,
As it flattened his wife and then bit his child.

The police were called in to sort out the mess,
And the whole sorry tale was revealed in the press,
The Rescue Society was really annoyed,
So, the dog was re-homed, and the owners destroyed.

~Author unknown~

The Shy One

Hidden deep within her soul
a best friend lies in wait,
as passersby all but ignore
the shy one's frightened face.

Abused? Or was she born this way?
That's not the issue here,
attention to her past won't bring
the love she needs to heal.

The burning fear that clouds her eyes
reveals the painful truth,
that reaching out to trust
is something she alone can't do.

But if instead your loving arms
stretched out to her today
you'd be amazed at all the love
she yearns to give away.

If you take the time to hold
her face within your hands
and look into the frantic eyes
I think you'll understand...

It's not that she's a "problem" dog
nor one who's a lost cause,
it's simply that she needs someone
who won't see her fears as flaws.

You say you want a happy dog
who'll love you all your days?
Right here my friend is what you want
behind the mask of pain.

You hesitate...I understand
how cautious you must be.
It's too late now to change your mind,
she's coming home with me.

But in her place another waits
ignored by passersby,
the shy one with a heart of gold,
a best friend in disguise.

~Terri Onorato~

The Rainbow Bridge
for those alone and without a friend in this life...

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge
because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a
land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet
dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water, and warm
Spring weather. Those old and frail animals are young again. Those who have
been maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.

Some of them here are different. They were beaten, starved, tortured,
and unloved. They watch wistfully as their friends leave one by one,
to cross the bridge with their special person. For them there is no one,
no special one. Their time on earth did not give them one.

But one day, as they run and play, they notice someone standing by the
road to the bridge. This person wistfully watches the reunions of friends,
for in their life, they had no pet. They were beaten, starved, tortured,
and unloved.

As they stand there alone, one of the unloved pets comes up to them,
curious as to why this one is alone. And as the they get nearer to each
other, a miracle occurs, for these are the ones who were meant to be
together. Their special person, their beloved pet, although on Earth they
never met. With the meeting of two souls, the pain and the sorrow
disappear, and two friends are together.

Then they cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

~Anonymous~

Little Puppy

Little puppy, sitting there
In the field midst daisies fair,
Wary-eyed you look at me;
Are you lost ... or could it be
Someone put you in this place
All alone this world to face?

Soon the sun will fade from sight
And the day will turn to night.
You've no drink or food to eat;
Come, I'll take you home with me.
Little things need loving care,
Perhaps that's why God put me here.

~ Author Unknown ~

Good Bye, My Friend

Oh, little friend, do you recall,
When you made this house your home?
You were just a ball of fluff,
Not even halfway grown.

You stumbled when you learned to walk,
It was hard to steer four legs;
You learned to sit, and stay, and come,
And, of course, you learned to beg.

You loved those walks we used to take,
You never left my side;
And if I got my car keys out,
You were ready for a ride.

You sensed when I was happy,
Or was feeling kind of low;
You'd rub up against my knee,
You always seemed to know.

You'd fetch a ball or get a toy,
Without even being told;
But, was your face crestfallen,
If I felt the need to scold.

You found the outside world exciting,
Do you remember your first snow?
You'd not come back inside the house,
Because you loved it so.

Going to the vets for shots,
I guess was your greatest fear;
You seemed to know each scheduled date,
Though you went but once a year.

You were afraid of lightening, too,
And of booming thunderstorms;
You'd run and jump upon my bed,
Where it was safe and warm.

I never once felt lonely,
As long as you were here;
You were at my feet or on my lap,
You constantly were near.

Oh, I am going to miss you,
No question about that;
But, little one, for your pain to go,
I had to send you back.

You're going back to heaven now,
From whence long ago you came;
You'll be welcomed back by God, Himself,
Who knows your doggy-name.

I think there's Frisbees up in heaven,
And rubber, squeaky toys;
And angels who will play with you,
And little girls and boys.

But, there won't be any thunderstorms,
And no vets with shots up there;
You won't even need a leash,
You'll run freely in God's air.

And when my time on earth is done,
And at heaven's gate I'm near,
I don't want any harps or horns,
Just ... happy barks to hear.

So, see you later, little friend,
I'm glad you're now pain-free;
And I'm glad you're sitting next to Jesus,
Now ... you wait right there for me.

~ Virginia Ellis ~

GOD KNEW

God knew that you were suffering.
That the hills were hard to climb
So He gently closed your eyelids
And whispered "Peace be thine."
In tears we watched you sinking
We watched you fade away
Our hearts were surely broken
You fought so hard to stay

But when we saw you sleeping
So peaceful, free from pain
We could not wish you back
To suffer that again
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

~ Anonymous ~

May I Go?

May I go now?
Do you think the time is right?
May I say goodbye to pain filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and living light.
I want to go
I really do.
It's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid,
because I see your tears.
I'll not be far,
I promise that, and hope you'll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me.
You know I love you too,
that's why it's hard to say goodbye
and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you'll let me go today.

~ Susan A. Jackson ~

NOW I MUST GO

Send me to the Bridge I pray
when I no longer run and play.
When my limbs can't bear my weight
and dignity is stripped by fate.

Look into my eyes, you'll find
I will let you know, it's time.
You must help me from this edge.
Now it's time, I make this pledge.

I leave you for the Bridge today.
Anew, I run, I bark, I play!
We shared a life of many things
and to your heart my leaving brings;
the pain of loss, I feel it too,
but Master, know, this I must do.

I must leave first, to make the way
for you to follow me someday.
Beyond the sunset, where all pain ends
we'll meet again, the best of friends.

Just as I snuggled in your heart,
you're in mine too, we aren't apart.
I watch you from afar and pray,
it's time to heal, heal some each day.

Please dry those tears and smile for me,
and know at last that I am free.
There is no pain or suffering here.
The sun shines brightly everywhere.

There isn't even one cross look,
it's not allowed here in His book.
No clouds of gray will gather here,
no storms will ever threaten.
We are at peace here,
and the Bridge is Heaven.

~ Barbara J. Miller ~

MY GIFT TO JESUS

I wish someone had given little 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 own 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 its 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.

~ Jane L. Sears ~

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.
I saw a wonderous image then of a place that's trouble-free
Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.
I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side
Were meadows rich and beautiful -- lush and green and wide!
And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see
Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!
My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new
And I wanted to go run with them, but I had something left to do.
I needed to reach out to you, to tell you I'm alright
That this place is truly wonderful, then a bright Glow pierced the night.
'Twas the Glow of many Candles shining bright and strong and bold
And I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.
For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,
We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.
So whenever you need to find me, we're never far apart
If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Don't grieve too long for now I'm free
I'm following the path God set for me
I ran to him when I heard His call
I wagged my tail, I left it all.

I could not stay another day
To bark, to love, to romp or play
Games left that way must stay that way
I found such peace, it made my day.

My parting has left you with a void
So fill it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss
Oh, yes, these things I too shall miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life's been full, you've given so much
Your time, your love and gentle 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 wanted me now, He set me free...

They come into our lives for such a short time
a time we wouldn't trade not even for a dime
Then before you know it the years have flown by
and then all of the sudden we're saying good-bye

So now we take the time to remember our friend
who will always be with us even to our end
We'll always remember you the way you were
one big lovable hugable pile of fur.

~Author: John Quealy~

He wagged his tail to the very last
And he smiles in his last, long sleep
troubles of life, for him, are past,
In his grave, a few feet deep.
His soul--for I feel that he had a soul
And he thought real thoughts, I know,
Has found the ultimate end, life's goal,
In the heaven where good dogs go.

He has lived with me and has suffered with me,
Shed tears, in his dog-like way;
He has placed his paw at times on my knee,
In a vain attempt to say:
"God never gave us that wondrous power,
To tell all the things we feel,
But, I want to say, in my canine way,
That my sympathy is real."

So I loved my dog to the very end,
And he in our daily walk,
Was never just a dog, but a constant friend
And we had no need to talk.
And I hope, when the summons comes, for me
To embark on the unknown tide,
I shall find his eyes in the Paradise
They say is the Other Side.

~ James Clarence Harvey ~

SO LONG, PAL

We've wandered together
In all sorts of weather,
The sun on our coats and the wind in our hair.
We've traveled the highways,
The streets and the byways,
In country or city, with never a care.

In summer's lush greenness
Or winter's gray leanness
Through fields, over hills, just you and I, Boy.
And stopping or going
Or hasting or slowing
My word was your law, and my will was your joy.

No hills' rocky steepness,
No roaring stream's deepness
Could stop your swift leap or your brave onward stride,
With eyes full of laughter
You'd watch me crawl after,
But always you'd wait till I stood by your side.

But we've come to the lonely
Dark crossroads where only
One may go on, and the other must wait.
Do you watch my feet blunder
With slow steps, and wonder
Why I linger so long, why I'm coming so late?

They'll be long years and hollow
For me, till I follow,
But I think you'll be waiting for me as of yore,
And then at our meeting,
You'll bark a glad greeting,
And we'll start out anew, together once more.

~ Ethel Blumann ~

THE SILHOUETTE

The silhouette stands boldly
at the end of the hallway
ears erect, eyes like jewels
the tail, it softly sways.
This wouldn't be the first time
I've seen her stand nearby
her image clear as crystal
from the corner of my eye.
Her visits I don't share with some
who think I've went over and beyond
the grieving time they deem I need,
they say I should move on.
I sometimes pity people who
have never felt just cause
to share the bond between two souls,
one with hands and one with paws.
The silhouette reminds me
what the others say is wrong
for as long as breath goes through me
there exists our mighty bond.
When the Keeper calls me home
and the Bridge gates open wide
our bond will deepen ten fold
as we walk through side by side.
You see, I am the lucky one
as I've been truly blessed
for someday we'll walk together
as eternal silhouettes.

~ Terri Onorato ~