Tags
cats, death, disagreement, dogs, family, Grief, grieving, healing, Life, love, Mike and the Mechanics, pets, Relationships, restoration, thanksgiving, The Living Years, YouTube
Today’s edition of Two for Thursday is a bit unique in that the content appears to be drastically different, however; each offers an opportunity to be thankful. Read on and tell me what you think.
Like us, I’m sure many of you are pet owners. In fact, like us, many of you probably consider your pets to be part of your family…we certainly do. And for some reason, the pets that my wife and I have had during our 29 year marriage have all had long, healthy lives. We consider ourselves blessed to have had them so long. Our first two pets were dogs, and they lived 11 and 10 years – a mom and her pup. We’ve also had a cat for 17 years, a mini dachshund for 16.5 years, and a black lab for 14 years. Our current mini dachshund is 15 years old. Yes, all of these were part of the family.
As it is with people, the death of our pets can cause us to grieve. This year has been particularly tough for us in that we’ve had to bury our 16.5 year old mini dachshund and our 14 year old black lab. The pain is very real, and we miss them both dearly. Many of you know that feeling. Some days are tougher than others, just as it is with a loss of a loved one of the human kind. And like the loss of a loved one, many of us set up some type of memorial in honor of our lost pets. For us, we have their certificates (paw prints) along with picture collages set up throughout our house to honor their memory.
With that loss of our beloved pet, many of us invest hope in the fact that we may get to see them again some day, and we want to believe that they really have crossed over a magical “Rainbow Bridge.” And whether that bridge actually exists or not, the thought is indeed comforting. We said of our black lab (Tyson) that we recently buried, now he’s able to go find Walker (our mini dachshund) and play with him again.
That leads me to the first of two resources today: The Rainbow Bridge website. It’s a beautiful idea, and if you’re looking for an alternate way to memorialize your pet, you should check it out. The description from their site says: Rainbow Bridge is a Grief Support Community for those who are hurting from the death of a beloved pet. They were not “just a pet”, they are our family. You are not alone, we are here for you. Whether furry, feathered or scaled, all are welcome. Create a Rainbow Bridge Memorial which you care for as the Guardian of your baby’s memory. Together we can begin the journey to healing a broken heart… until the day comes when you meet once again and cross over the Rainbow Bridge.
Our second resource for today is a video. As you will see from the content of the video, it is about how we use our time, especially in regards to relationships. I mentioned earlier that both of today’s resources offer us a reason to be thankful, so I’d like to offer up this video as a way of saying that for many of us there is still time to restore broken relationships. Be spared of the regret that comes afterward when the time runs out – also alluded to in the song. For many of us, it means that we have to swallow our pride and be the one to reach out, take the blame, or just agree to disagree. What good is it to be right if it means being estranged from a loved one? “It’s too late when we die to admit we don’t see eye to eye.” Watch this 80’s video from Mike and the Mechanics titled “The Living Years”
Every generation blames the one before
And all of their frustrations come beating on your door
I know that I’m a prisoner to all my father held so dear
I know that I’m a hostage to all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could’ve told him in the living years
Oh, crumpled bits of paper filled with imperfect thoughts
Stilted conversations I’m afraid that’s all we’ve got
You say you just don’t see it he says it’s perfect sense
You just can’t get agreement in this present tense
We all talk a different language, talking in defense
Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It’s too late when we die
To admit we don’t see eye to eye
So we open up a quarrel between the present and the past
We only sacrifice the future it’s the bitterness that lasts
So don’t yield to the fortunes you sometimes see as fate
It may have a new perspective on a different day
And if you don’t give up and don’t give in, you may just be okay
Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It’s too late when we die
To admit we don’t see eye to eye
I wasn’t there that morning when my father passed away
I didn’t get to tell him all the things I had to say
I think I caught his spirit later that same year
I’m sure I heard his echo in my baby’s new born tears
I just wish I could have told him in the living years
Say it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It’s too late when we die
To admit we don’t see eye to eye
Say it loud, say it clear
Say it loud, say it clear
Say it loud, say it clear
Say it loud
So there you have today’s special “Two for Thursday” edition. I hope that you’ll take the time to comment and let me know what you think. Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Sincerely,
Sonny Davis
