Rainbow Bridge

[Derek]

I don't know if anyone on X Marks has ever seen this, but some friends of ours brought this poem around to us yesterday evening in a frame to put on the wall. Its so beautiful, I felt I just had to pass it on to others.
Derek

[millar]

My wife had her two dogs die very close in time and the vet gave her this poem to help her during that stressful time. Thanks for sharing it.

[Jerry]

Derek, someone on this forum gave me this when my german shepherd, Nikita, died this past July 15. I also found these two:

Tribute to a Best Friend
Sunlight streams through window pane
unto a spot on the floor....
then I remember,
it's where you used to lie,
but now you are no more.
Our feet walk down a hall of carpet,
and muted echoes sound....
then I remember,
It's where your paws would joyously abound.
A voice is heard along the road,
and up beyond the hill,
then I remember it can't be yours....
your golden voice is still.
But I'll take that vacant spot of floor
and empty muted hall
and lay them with the absent voice
and unused dish along the wall.
I'll wrap these treasured memorials
in a blanket of my love
and keep them for my best friend
until we meet above.
Author unknown

and

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me.......

When tomorrow starts without me,
And I’m not there to see;
The sun will rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today,
Remembering how I’d lay my head
In your lap that special way.
I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you’ll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me.
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name
And petted me with her hand.
She said my place was ready,
In Heaven far above,
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.
But, as I turned to heel away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life I never thought
That I would have to die.
I had so much to live for,
So many “sits” and “downs” to do
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.
I thought about our lives together,
I know you must be sad,
I thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had.
Remember how I’d nudge your hand,
And poke you with my nose?
The frisbee I would gladly chase,
The bad guy, I’d “bark and hold”.
If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for awhile,
I’d wag my tail and kiss you,
Just so I could see you smile.
But, then I fully realized,
That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories
Will take the place of me.
And when I thought of treats and toys,
I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you and when I did,
My dog-heart filled with sorrow.
But then I walked through Heaven’s gate,
And felt so much at home;
As God looked down and smiled at me,
From His beautiful golden throne.
He said, “This is eternity,
And now we welcome you,
Today your life on earth is past,
But here it starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last;
For you see, each days’s the same day,
There’s no longing for the past.
Now you have been so faithful,
So trusting, loyal and true;
Though there were times you did things,
You knew you shouldn’t do.
But good dogs are forgiven,
And now at last you’re free;
So won’t you sit here by my side,
And wait right here with me?”
So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don’t think we’re far apart.
For every time you think of me,
I’m right there, in your heart.
(author unknown)

I still have tears in my eyes whrn I read all of these. I hope they bring some comfort to you in your recent loss.

Here is a link you might want to memorialize your lost friend. My Nikita rests there and in my heart.

http://www.catmom.de/petloss/

[davedove]

Man, you guys have got me misting up. Now it's going to be hard to see the computer monitor.

[Mike n NC]

Misting up my big'ol butt. Somebody pass me a tissue. These hit really close to home right now, even though it has been some time the wife and I are still grieving the loss of our black lab. To make things even more intense, we are nursing a very sick kitty. Vet can't figure out what the problem is so all we can do is feed, support and love her. She, Felicia, is a street rescue that we have had for almost 9 years now and is one of the most loving cats I have ever known.
My heart goes out for you Derek.

Mike

[Mr. Kilt]

These poems and stories manage to make my eyes leak every time I read them. Guess I'm just an old softie after all.

I found this one last summer when our cat was very ill. It was written for cats, but would be appropriate for dog lovers as well.

A Kitty’s Conversation
By Carol Notermann

“Where’s Mommy?” The wee small cat, asked the One who lifted it.
“She’ll be along.” His voice replied. “We’ll only wait a bit.”

“But she was holding me and crying. I felt her shoulders shake.”
“I know. You see, she made a choice, the hardest she could make.”

“But I went to sleep inside her arms?” the little cat replied.
His voice was soft, “I know, and that was why she cried.”

“I stood beside your Mommy, when the vet was bending down.
I gave her strength to hold you, as her tears fell all around”

“Will you stay with me till Mommy comes?” the kitty asked the Man.
“I’ll be here each day to see you, until she comes to you again.”

“For right beside that Rainbow Bridge, is where dogs and kitties wait,
And when you’re human’s time has come, I’ll take you both on through the gate.”

“Thank you Sir”, the kitty said, “That day will be so grand!”
And too himself he wondered “How He got the scars upon His hand?”

[ByDand]

Reminds me of when I was a young boy (long, long time ago) and I went with my brother on his paper route. It was collection day and if I carried the papers I got the tips. We stopped at a Catholic church and the Priest invited us in to his office to pay for the papers. With him were three standard Poodles, incredibly well groomed and behaved. I had just lost my dog about two weeks prior and I asked the Priest if dogs went to heaven when they died. He told me that of course they went to heaven because if they didn't no one else would want to go either. Made my day!

[GMan]

These words are all so heart wrenching, but also very comforting.

I am so glad that they bring so much comfort to us all.

[Big Paul]

If dogs don't go to heaven when they die, then when I die, I want to go where they go!!!

My boy, Luke..

[GlassMan]

I agree, with the amount of love, caring and self-sacrifice evidenced by dogs I can't imagine that they go anywhere but heaven. I often think that my dog is the best example of pure Christian love I've ever seen.

This is a picture of my little girl Chloe back from Christmas of '01. She does a great Max impression from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"