Being a
veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound. The dog's owner, his wife, and their two children, were all very attached to the
animal they considered a family member so they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined this
remarkable animal and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we
couldn't do anything for him, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure
for this middle aged dog in their home.
As we made
arrangements, the owners told me they thought it would be good for their six-year-old
son and their younger daughter to observe the procedure. They felt both might
learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt
the familiar catch in my throat as the dog’s loving family family surrounded
him. The young son seemed so calm, petting his long time friend for the last time
that I could not help but wonder if he understood what was going on. Within a
few minutes, the dog slipped peacefully away.
The little boy
seemed to accept the transition without any difficulty or confusion. Whatever. We
sat together for a while, after the dog’s death, wondering aloud about the sad
fact that the lives of the higher “dumb” animals are so often much shorter than
human lives.
The young boy, 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. It has changed the way I TRY to live.
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 Six-year-old continued, ''Well,
dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.' Nature, the
Creator, put cats, dogs and some other animals on this earth to teach us: to:
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, with a “dumb
“animal as your teacher you would also learn things like:
When loved ones come
home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the
opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience
of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before
rising.
Run, romp, and play
daily.
Thrive on attention
and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a
simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop
to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink
lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy,
dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the
simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be
something you're not.
If what you want
lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is
having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time
in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You
surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on
the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the
ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy.
Falling down is part
of LIFE...Getting back up is LIVING...~~original author unknown.
