WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME

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.

TIME TO GO

Time to Go

The time has come I think you know
the Lord is calling so I must go
I love you so much; I wish it wasn't so
I wish I could stay; I don't want to go

You're the best family a dog ever had
so kind and gentle, never mean or mad
I'll never forget the day that we met
I was so lucky to become your pet

You opened your door and showed me your heart
I'll never forget you; we'll never part
You loved me and cared for me over the years
you taught me everything and took away my fears

The Lord is calling now I must go
but before I go I want you to know
I know it hurts to lose a friend
but I'll always be with you even to the end.

Written by John Quealy

A LOAN FROM GOD

A LOAN FROM GOD

God promised at the birth of time, a special friend to give,
his time on earth is short, he said, so love him while he
lives. It may be six or seven years, or twelve or then
sixteen, but will you, till I call him back, take care of him for
me? A wagging tail and cold wet nose, and silken velvet
ears, a heart as big as all outdoors, to love you through the
years. His puppy ways will gladden you, and antics bring a
smile, as guardian or friend he will, be loyal all the while.
He'll bring his charms to grace your life, and though his stay
be brief, when he's gone the memories, are solace for your
grief. I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth
return, but lessons only a dog can teach, I want you each
to learn. Whatever love you give to him, returns in triple
measure, follow his lead and gain a life, brim full of simple
pleasure. Enjoy each day as it comes, allow your heart to
guide, be loyal and steadfast in love, as the dog there by
your side. Now will you give him all your love, nor think the
labor vain, nor hate me when I come to call, to take him
back again? I fancy each of us would say, "Dear Lord, thy
will be done, for all the joy this day shall bring, the risk of
grief we'll run." "We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love
him while we may, and for the happiness we've known,
forever grateful stay." "But shall the angels call for him,
much sooner than we've planned, we'll brave the bitter grief
that comes, and try to understand."

Author Unknown

HEAVEN'S DOGGY DOOR

HEAVEN'S DOGGY DOOR

My best friend closed his eyes last night,
As his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain,
And it was hard for him to stand.

The thoughts that scurried through my head,
As I cradled him in my arms.
Were of his younger, puppy years,
And OH...his many charms.

Today, there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I love you gaze",
Only a heart thats filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.

But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, "you should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
HE's installed a "doggy-door"!

Jan Cooper

THE LITTLE DOG ANGEL

THE LITTLE DOG ANGEL
High up in the courts of Heaven today
A little dog-angel waits
With the other dogs he will not play
But he sits alone at the Gates:
For I know my master will come, says he
And when he comes, he will call for me.
And his Master far down on the earth below,
As he sits in his easy chair
Forgets sometimes, and he whistles low
For the dog that is not there;
And the little dog-angel cocks his ears
And dreams that his Master's call he hears.
And I know when at length his Master waits
Outside in the dark and cold
For the hand of Death to open the gates
That lead to the Courts of Gold,
The little dog-angel's eager bark
Will comfort his soul while he's still in the dark.

by Norah M. Holland, 1870

THE STRAY

THE STRAY

Monday he said that a crumb would do
Tuesday he asked me to make it two
Wednesday he said he'd prefer to have fish
And not on a paper - he'd rather a dish!
On Thursday he said it was cold out there
So what about letting him sleep on a chair
By Friday he'd made it perfectly clear
That lucky old he was going to live HERE
On Saturday night he took half my bed
And woke me up early to get himself fed
Today we'll have chicken because it is Sunday
I wonder what he'd enjoy eating on Monday

Author Unknown

A Dog's Best Friend

A Dog's Best Friend

O Lord, don't let me once forget
How I love my trusty pet-
Help me learn to disregard
canine craters in my yard
Show me how to be a buddy
even when my sofa's muddy,
Don't allow my pooch to munch
postal carriers for lunch,
Shield my neighbor's cat from view,
guide my steps around the doo,
Train me not to curse and scowl,
when it's puppy's night to howl,
Grant I shan't awake in fear
with a cold nose in my ear,
Give me patience without end-
Help me be; A DOG'S BEST FRIEND.

Author Unknown

Memories are Golden

Memories are Golden

They say memories are golden.
Well, maybe that is true.
I never wanted memories
I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried.
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly,
In death I love you still.
In my heart you hold a place
No one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway,
And heartache make a lane.
I'd walk the path to heaven,
And bring you home again.

Our family chain is broken,
And nothing seems the same.
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.

Author Unknown

RESCUE POEM

RESCUE POEM"

Arlene Pace
September 18, 1998

Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.
I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate what ever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or a gently say my name.
I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.
No one again will hurt you
Was whispered in my ear.
You’ll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear
You will be dry, you will be warm,
you’ll have enough to eat
And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet.
I was afraid I must admit,
I’ve lived so long in fear.
I can’t remember when I let
A human come so near.
And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me ‘bout the rescue group
And what it meant to her.
She said, We are a circle,
A line that never ends.
And in the center there is you
protected by new friends.

And all around you are
the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
after you’ve been found.
And all the other folk
are searching near and far.
To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star.
She said, There is a family,
that’s waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we’ll find them,
just you wait and see.
And then they’ll join our circle
they’ll help to make it grow,
so there’ll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go.
I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today’s the day I thought,
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
It wasn’t meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me.
I could tell they felt it too.
for a special dog like you.
Now every night I say a prayer
to all the Gods that be.
Thank you for the life I live
and all you’ve given me.
But most of all protect the dogs
in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person
to lift them off their feet.