A Parting Prayer Dear Lord, Please open your gates and call St. Francis to come escort this beloved companion across the Rainbow Bridge. Assign her to a place of honor, for she has been a faithful servant and has always done her best to please me. Bless the hands that send her to you, for they are doing so in love and compassion, freeing her from pain and suffering. Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss. Help me remember the details of her life with the love she has shown me. And grant me the courage to honor her by sharing those memories with others. Let her remember me as well and let her know that I will always love her. And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise, please allow her to accompany those who will bring me home. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of her companionship and for the time we've had together. And thank you, Lord, for granting me the strength to give her to you now. Amen. © Brandy Duckworth, 1998 Brandy's webpage address is: http://www.otch.com/brandy.htm All Is Well Death is nothing, I have only slipped away into the next room, but I remain myself, and you are yourself. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by name, speak to me just as you always did. Put no difference in your tone: wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always did at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, have fun, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be used throughout the house as it always was, speak it without affect, without any trace of shadow on it. Life still means all that it always meant, it is the same as it ever was, unbroken in continuity. Do not let me be out of mind because I am out of sight - I am there somewhere very near, just around the corner from you for a spell, until you join me. All is well. Canon Henry Scott Holland A Child Loaned "I'll lend you, for a little time A child of mine" he said, "For you to love the while she lives and mourn for when she's dead. It may be six or seven years or twenty-two or three. but will you, 'til I call her back, take care of her for me? I've looked this whole world over In my search for teachers true And from the throngs that crowd lifes lanes I have selected you. I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return. But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. Now will you give her all your love? Not think the labour vain, Nor hate me when I come to call And take her back again?" I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord thy will be done. For all the joy thy child shall bring The risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter her with tenderness, We'll love her while we may, and for the happiness we've known Forever grateful stay. And should the Angels call for her, Much sooner than we planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes And try to understand." Author Unknown 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. Author: Susan A. Jackson The Rainbow Bridge Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal who has been especially close to someone dies, that pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. Animals who were ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them from days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one thing: they miss someone very special to them; the person they left behind. All of the animals run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. Happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together. Author unknown 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 wondrous 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. cg - 1995 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. Author Unknown If It Should Be If it should be that I grow weak, And pain should keep me from my sleep, Then you must do what must be done, For this last battle cannot be won. You will be sad, I understand, Don't let your grief then stay your hand, For this day more than all the rest, Your love for me must stand the test. We've had so many happy years, What is to come can hold no fears, You'd not want me to suffer so, The time has come, please let me go. Take me where my need they'll tend, And please stay with me until the end, I know in time that you will see, The kindness that you did for me. Although my tail its last has waved, From pain and suffering I've been saved. Please do not grieve, it must be you Who had this painful thing to do, We've been so close, we two, these years, Don't let your heart hold back its tears. Author unknown Why St. Francis Loved the Birds Most of All St. Francis of Assisi loved all the birds and animals of the world. They were his special charges. Daily he would sit in the garden and the birds would perch on his shoulders, the squirrels would cuddle on his lap. The rabbits and foxes and the animals of the forest would sit at his feet. All the animals adored him. St. Francis was especially fond of a small bird who would sit in his window and wake him in the morning with his sweet song. In the evening the little bird would again sit in the window and his sweet song would lull St. Francis to sleep. Each day St. Francis would save the crumbs from his breakfast for his good friend, the little bird. The little bird would accompany St. Francis on his daily chores and would cheer him up with a song when St. Francis seemed sad. The little bird would sing with joy when St. Francis smiled. One day the little bird went to the window to waken his friend with a song, only to find that St. Francis was not there. Puzzled, the little bird asked of the squirrels "Where is our good friend?" The squirrels did not know. The little bird asked of the rabbits "Where is our good friend?" The rabbits did not know. Then the little bird asked the wisest of creatures, the owl "Where is our good friend?" The owl looked sadly on the little bird and said "He has gone to join his father." The little bird smiled and said "Then I shall go and join him also!" The owl told the little bird "No my little friend. St. Francis has gone to Heaven. Only humans can go to Heaven. You must stay here on the earth with us." The little bird drooped his wings and began to cry, so sad to think that he would never see his friend again. Suddenly, he lifted his head and dried his tears. "There must be some way that I can get to Heaven too!!", he said. "Tell me," he asked the wise owl. "Where is Heaven?" "Oh, little bird," said the owl, "it is so far up in the sky that you could never reach it with your tiny wings!" I can do it!" whispered the little bird to himself. "I MUST DO IT!" The little bird gathered all his energy together and flew up into the sky. Higher and higher he flew. He went up above the clouds and still he flew on. Higher and higher until he had no strength in his wings. With a sob he said "If I cannot be with my friend, I will just die!" With that he folded his wings and started plummeting to the ground. He closed his eyes in resignation, ready to give up his life. Suddenly, a bright light shown down from above and lit upon the little bird. A puff of wind lifted the little bird up. He opened his eyes and saw far, far above him the face of his dear friend. Little bird rejoiced and with renewed vigor he started flying again. Higher and higher until he reached the hand of his friend, St. Francis. The two rejoiced in their reunion with one another. "Owl told me that birds cannot go to Heaven", the little bird said. "Your devotion to me has earned your right to join me here in my Father's Home." St. Francis said, "From now on, all the birds and animals of the world will have a place here in Heaven with us." And to this day, when ever a little bird who loves his owner dies, whenever a dog or cat or other pet looses his grip on this world, St. Francis of Assisi reaches down from above and lifts the little one up to Heaven, there to await the arrival of his dear friend. Author Unknown