By Heidi Clayton
I lost one of my dogs this week. On Wednesday, April 24, one Miss Sushi Marie left me. All I can think of is how to move on in the world without her pure heart and unwavering love. I decided to share a portion of Crystal Ward Kent’s essay called “The Journey” about the time we share with our dogs in honor of my Sushi. Her love for life and joy at the little things forced me to live in the moment and has left a lasting legacy on every aspect of my life.
You will learn the true measure of love — the steadfast, undying kind that says, “It doesn’t matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together.” Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race.
And you will learn humility. The look in my dog’s eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you to be — the one they were proud to call beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet’s time on earth is far too short — especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left.
The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken.
But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead — young and whole once more.
“Godspeed, good friend,” we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
No matter how hectic of a day you’re having or what life is throwing at you, take just one moment every day and share it with your dog. Our journeys with them are far too short. To everyone who has lost their dog, I hope that the memories of the joy of the journey with them bring you peace.
You can read the essay in its entirety at http://www.journeyforanimals.com/index.html.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
