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Our Lady's Little Scribe seeks to use the internet for sharing the Catholic faith and Franciscan spirituality, going from Gospel to life and life to the Gospel.



The silk painting, shown above, is by Ty Mam Duw, Poor Clare Colettines, Hawarden, WALES GB. Their website is here. Ty Mam Duw is Welsh and means The House of the Mother of God. Our Lady of the Pearl cherishes their friendship and is grateful for their many kindnesses and prayers. The image is used with permission.

Entertaining Angels

Entertaining Angels
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Monday, December 31, 2007

Our Joy is Now Our Sorrow



Sammy; David & Sammy; Teddy at bottom.

Gift of Thistle (click for music)

I hope to publish another blog soon for our family pets but today Our Lady's Little Scribe is the place we will remember and grieve for two precious ones, Sammy and Teddy, lost this month. Sammy was hit by a speeding car yesterday, December 30th, in front of his home. For some reason, he left his yard (during his potty break), crossed the street and wandered off for a few minutes. He was on his way home again when he was hit and gone in an instant. He was a bedlington terrier, very, very smart, funny and full of life. I groomed Sammy once. He was so good, very still and seemed to enjoy the whole process. He had a regal air about himself. I felt as if I were the attendant to a prince tho he occasionally bared his teeth in an ungentlemanly fashion. This happened if anyone became too bossy with him, not to threaten us but only because his nose itched when he became aggravated. He leaves behind his human family of mom, dad, and three brothers along with his special companion Lucy the dog and other furry ones. Sammy was my granddog. We are heartbroken.

Teddy came to live with us in the spring along with his lifetime companion Rosie, who is almost blind. They were rescued from the local shelter. Teddy was a Maltese mix, a very sweet and loving companion who followed my every step. I think he was happy living with us, maybe the happiest he had been in a long time. He seemed to be as he ran around the yard, barked at squirrels, and chased a cat or two, but he had a severe collapsed trachea, the worst our vet had ever seen. Breathing was very difficult. The medicine became less effective, and x-rays showed that the collapse was progressing with the possibility of a smothering death coming soon. On December 18th, my husband and I and Rosie accompanied Teddy to rainbow bridge where he waits for us. I held him in my arms as he crossed over. Our joy is now our sorrow.

How can we explain our tears to those who do not understand and have never experienced the deep devotion and bond between a dog and his humans? I know an elderly couple whose little dog was killed by a car (driven by a negligent friend). The husband told me that all they could do was cry. Day after day, they cried.

To bond with a dog is to know joy, laughter, affection unlimited, touch, love, the end of loneliness and always forgiveness. Always forgiveness. To share life on this level with one of God's creatures is, for some, the beginning of understanding of God himself.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile show unto us the
blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus;
O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

15 comments:

Mike Farley said...

So sad is the death of our animal friends... I still remember every one we loved and lost over the years as if it were yesterday, their particular bark or mew. Even the cows, though we had hundreds back in the day...

Christ's mercy is unending, and he loved even the little sparrows. We can trust him with our lovely companions - but it still hurts us here, missing them.

Prayers for you and all your family

Mike

Little Scribe said...

Thanks, Mike, for your comforting words and understanding.

Unknown said...

I am sorry your little guys aren't with you anymore. How merciful is God who didn't allow them to suffer long. He created them....Everything He created was from LOVE. Your dogs reflected that Love for you and gave of themselves always.... Even the sweet memories of them are their gifts to you. Peace.

Anonymous said...

I didn't know Sammy, but I understand the loss of a member of the family. They are our little children, and it hurts when something happens to them. I got to meet Teddy when he was in Meridian one time. He was such a precious little fella. My prayers are with you and hope you all heal soon. I know you will miss them both.

Anonymous said...

It is very hard to loose a beloved pet. But know they are now running free of pain with the Lord and all of our other pets that meet them at the gate.

Anonymous said...

I am so deeply sorry for your sad and sudden loss of such a little prince. My heart shares your sorrow.

Until the day you can hug him again, may you find comfort in the happy memories he brought to your beloved family, and may you always look back and smile. If tears come, it is because of the profound love you shared, and that is such a blessing to have known such deep love. To think of the families who have lived without that. You have been blessed by this little prince.

Donna and Gizz in Connecticut
www.dogster.com/dogs/458895

Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats, calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do . . . The land will be as full of knowledge of the Lord as the seas are full of water." Isaiah 11:6-9

"Search in the Lord's book of living creatures and read what it says. Not one of these creatures will be missing and not one will be without its mate. The Lord has commanded it to be so; He Himself will bring them together. It is the Lord who will divide the land among them and give each of them a share. They will live in the land age after age, and it will belong to them for ever." Isaiah 34:16, 17

Anonymous said...

David and family - you probably don't remember me, but I watched you grow up and remember you very fondly. I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Sammy - I know Sammy was a very special part of your family. Know that Sammy will miss you and your family as you miss him. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Brenda New Bauch

Unknown said...

Sincere condolences on your losses.
May the memory of their absolute love sustain you until you meet again.

Patrick
Phoebe & Claire

Anonymous said...

Hi Brenda: Thank you very much. You brought a lot of happiness to us and Mom when we first move back to Oxford.

Anonymous said...

Sammy was a loving dog. He was loyal and obedient. I loved him and I know he'll be waiting for me on Rainbow Bridge. I will miss him until I meet him again.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

We are all so sadened by our loss of Sammy. I could write a book about him. It's so hard to believe he is gone. I learned so much about love from him. It's all he wanted was to be loved and feel like he belonged.

He was very protective of his family and would check on us every so often, peering around the corner of the room. He would never approach until invited.

But, he was a wonderful fellow. He was like a little man, not a dog. He could almost talk. I could take him anywhere and he was very polite. He would stay right beside me without a leash. He was like a shadow. In fact, there were times when he would be standing beside me and suddenly disappear! I would call and look everywhere and then find him behind me hiding in my shadow. He was the funniest fellow you ever saw and he brought us so much happiness and joy. No wonder his name was Sammy Clemmons.

We don't know too much about where he came from, but I am certain he could have been a show dog, like you see on TV. He was a pure bred Bedlington Terrier and I will never know such a fine dog again.

I was blessed to have been given him by friends in Atlanta who had found him in the Highway and he jumped in their car to be saved. It just breaks my heart that he died anyway in the road.

We buried him in the country yesterday beneath three oak trees.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Sammy. I know the quote by Roger Caras to be ture. " Dog are not our Whole life, but they make our lives whole.

Vera

kvleake said...

God loves all His little children. I know we will see our precious pets when we go to be with our Heavenly Father. So sorry for your losses. It's so hard to lose a pet. My heart and prayers are with you.

Karen "The Pearls"

Little Scribe said...

Thank you everyone for writing. It really helps to hear from friends. The family appreciate your compassion.

Love & Prayers