Saying Goodbye to our Charlie Boy

In recent days, we had the sad task of saying goodbye to our little dog Charlie Boy. He has left quite a void in our family and will be dearly missed.

We buried him amongst a gathering of oaks overlooking the back yard.

Whispers from above:   The morning after burying him, a single ray of sunlight streamed through the branches illuminating the rock marking Charlie's grave site.
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God."

~ Luke 12:6 

On another day, a red cardinal flew past. It is said that the sighting of a red cardinal is representative of a loved one who has passed and that they are visiting you.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

~ Psalm 34:18

A Life Well Lived:

I'd like to share a little about our Charlie Boy so that you might understand why he was so special to us and to honor his short, but well lived life.

He came into our lives as a most unexpected gift.

In 2009, we added to our menagerie with our sweet dog Sophie.

Unbeknownst to us Sophie was pregnant at the time and much to our surprise, Charlie was born 2 weeks later.

Our house was suddenly filled with all the wonders that puppies bring.

Yes, his cute factor was through the roof, but there was so much more to him.

Right from the start, he was as independent as they come. By all standards, he was a loner.

He was born with the strut of a champion show dog and it stayed with him till the day he died.

People would naturally gravitate towards his perfect teddy bear face and want to hold him. His shy demeanor would often find him hiding under the bed or tucked in a corner where nobody would bother him.

He grew into a handsome young boy and he tired of the attention his pretty face garnered. He developed a protective attitude that served him well. Anyone invading his personal space was quickly warned to back off with a bark and an occasional snap.

He was a Mama's boy and was always by my side.

He loved to wrestle with Sophie even though she got the better of him most days.

He loved going for walks or in his case, runs. He did everything at hyper-speed.

He could spot a chipmunk, a bird, a squirrel, a rubbish truck or a mailman from a mile away.

He loved playing with his basketball and chasing things in the pool.

He loved his family.

He was loyal and protective of us at all times. A simple knock on the door would send him into full defense mode and we would have to hold him back from going into all out attack mode.  My husband always said he would make a great guard dog, if it weren't for his ten pound frame.

From all of this, I now know:
- We were blessed with the gift of additional time with him.

- Nothing compares to the unconditional love of a dog.

- Prayers (whether answered or not) bring us to a better life.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- The faithful part of me knows he is in a far better place and that someday, we will be reunited.   - The selfish part of me wants him back.
- We are better for having known him.   - He taught us about love, loyalty, respect and patience.
- He is watching over us still.   Goodbye Little Man ~ Until we meet again.