This past week my heart has been a little sad: Three friends have been seriously faced with the mortality of their pets, and I know all of these pets, the four-leggeds. I was at one friend’s house last week when her dog escaped from the yard and was hit by a car and died. The next day I received a call from an acquaintance who needed to let her cat go at the vet’s. Currently, a dear friend’s dog has very limited time, and my dog Harley and I are hoping to spend some time with her soon. I have several other friends in this last year who have lost their cats and dogs, as well, and my heart goes out to each and every pet guardian, and I hug my own dog a little more tightly.

I remember when my mom informed me, post-college, that our family golden retriever had been “put to sleep.” Though I hadn’t lived in that house, lived two hours away, and hadn’t seen our dog Rusty for some time, I remembered my daily love, walks, brushing and other care with her, and I remember suddenly not being able to speak after my mom shared the news and hanging up on my mom. I was overcome, and I bawled.

With my dog Harley, I love him every chance I get; I often can’t pass through a room with him without sharing a pat or hug and some sweet words. I appreciate him every single day but am painfully reminded that, unless I am gone before he is, I will lose him from this physical life at some point. With any living being, we just don’t know when it’s his/her time to leave the earthly plane. Yes, we have this dilemma with people, but not everyone gets the pain of losing a pet; for many of us, it’s as close to losing a child.

There are many things said about our animal friends, including that they’re in our lives for a much shorter time than people because they know how to live and get things in this life right more quickly. They know how to love.

One of the most impactful cards I received when my father passed away had words that I now share with anyone losing a two-legged (traditionally human) or four-legged (traditionally dog, cat and so forth), and I’d like to offer them here.

Perhaps

they are not

the stars,

but rather openings

in Heaven

where the love

of our lost ones

pours through

and shines down upon us

to let us know

they are

happy.

~Inspired by an Eskimo legend 

Look up. The spirits of our loved ones shine so brightly in our midst—and the reminders are so sweetly, often there for us to cherish. Smile and know that they are indeed happy and at peace.