Monday, May 24, 2010

Study a Dog for a better life!

Dogs are great teachers.
Study one and here’s what you may learn:
  • When someone you love comes home, always run to greet them with Joy.
  • Love the feeling of fresh air and the wind in your face.
  • Never knock back a chance for a car ride.
  • Take heaps of naps.
  • Have a good un-hurried stretch before getting up.
  • Run and play and chase you tail each day, for no good reason except you can!
  • Stick by those you hold dear.
  • Enjoy a good walk for the pleasure of being out.
  • Be who you are and don’t pretend to be something you’re not.
  • Don’t bite when a simple growl with get your message across.
  • Enjoy attention and let people close.
  • On warm days lie in the cool grass stretch and rub your back.
  • On hot days drink heaps of water and find the shade of a good tree for a snooze.
  • When you’re happy show it by energizing your whole body.
  • If you want something and it’s buried, dig until you find it, even after a few false starts.
  • When you see someone that is feeling sad and low, be close with them sit in silence and gentle nuzzle ‘em.
It’s worth a look and worth a thought.
Cheers
Rev. Steve

Saturday, May 22, 2010

10 Commandments for Us by our Pets

Found this the other night and was impressed and would like to share it.



1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me. Don't be frustrated and impatient.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand the tone of your voice when speaking to me.
6.. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet I choose not to bite or scratch you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old and weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old You too, will grow old and need love, care, comfort and attention.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so. modified from the original poem by Stan Rawlinson Doglistener.co.u
It's worth a thought next time you get a bit cranky
with those that give us so much.

Cheers
Rev. Steve
www.petchaplains.com.au

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Pets are People Too!

Isn't it interesting that the passing of a Pet or much loved animal seems to attract much less attention for others around you that the passing of a human loved one.
How often have you heard the comment by possibly a well meaning parent, friend or relative.
"It was just a Dog/Cat/Bird, or whatever, come on pull yourself together. We'll go and get another one soon."
In all my time as a pastoral care giver I have never heard, it was just your Mother, Uncle or Sister, never mind will get another one soon!"
Now to some that last statement may appear harsh, to you I apologizes for any uneasiness you may feel. Having said that I ask that you consider the relationship that the grieving one has had with the pet or animal that has just died.
Just because the life that has just passed meant little to you, non-the-less the loss is very real and painful for those affected by the death.
Here are some helpful ways to comfort the bereaved, Talk about the pet, re-live the good times that it has given to people, talk about some of the naughty things it got up to.
Start to laugh and cry over these antics, this will allow the passing to become less painful.
It will keep alive the memories, while sharing the experience of it's existence with others.
Often people avoid talking about a death and fear mentioning the name of the pet that has just died because they think it will increase the hurt for the owners.
The opposite in fact is true by not mentioning the pet/animal (this goes for people also) it seems to the person that is suffering the loss that others do not wish to acknowledge the life instead of celebrating it.
Worth a thought.
Cheers

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Do Pets go to Heaven

Do Pets go to Heaven? This is the most commonly asked question that I get every day. Personally I think so. There are many differing points of view and that's all they are points of view.
For the record what do Pets give us? Unconditional Love! and can Love be destroyed? No. That means it must survive and if so where. Heaven seems like as good as spot as any.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verses 20-22.18 20All living creatures go to the same place. We are made from earth, and we return to the earth. 21Who really knows if our spirits go up and the spirits of animals go down into the earth? 22We were meant to enjoy our work, and that's the best thing we can do. We can never know the future.

My personal view is that they are always with us in our hearts and memories, and if we go to heaven, and they are not there already, then we will have them with us when we get there.

Cheers

Rev. Steve