Sunday, July 17, 2016

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.



25 comments:

  1. Oh, Suzanne, so sorry for your loss. Those furkids are such joy and leave a big, jagged hole in our hearts when they pass over the Rainbow Bridge. My heart goes out to you, and I share your grief as we lost our precious psychodog just a few months ago.

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  2. Oh I am so sorry. I grew up with 2 wonderful dogs who were beloved by our entire family. With 5 growing boys of my own, we have a new puppy. I am already getting teary eyed thinking about when that day will come. It is such a joy and honor o be loved by an animal so deeply as you have. May you hold on to those wonderful memories and one day, when you're ready, maybe even venture into the world of being a dog owner again.

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    1. Yes, you are right about it being an honor to be so loved by our pets. We still have 2 little dogs - Sophie and Delila, but it's amazing how much quieter the house has become. Many thanks for your sweet comment.

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  3. Such a sweetheart,I can see he filled your life with all things special...as he truly was. So sorry for your loss. Glad you had so many wonderful times with him.

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    1. Charlie left us with many great memories and will be missed. Thank-you for your warm thoughts.

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  4. OH Suzanne, what a sweet and touching tribute to your sweet Charlie. It is so hard to say goodbye to our special friends, but yes, like you said, you are better for having known him. Sending a prayer your way as you navigate the first days without him. So sorry for your loss. Jane

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  5. What a little sweetie. So sorry for your loss. God bless.

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  6. Oh Suzanne, my heart breaks for you. Cute little Charly should have had more time with you. It's so sad that he died so young. I'm very sorry. It's always hard to lose a sweet furry family member.
    Sending you a big hug,
    Julia

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  7. What a beautiful tribute to Charlie. He was a very special little guy and very lucky to have you as his family! I am very sorry for your loss. Lesa

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  8. Suzanne I have a Pomeranian given to me as a gift from my husband. His name is Peanut and you have just described him...yes POM's tend to be very protective of their owners and personal space...I PPP ray you feel better...I don't know what I would do without my peanyt

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    1. Yes, Pomeranians are known for their protective nature, but Charlie was a bit over the top when it came to us : ) . Thank-you for your kindness.

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  9. Sorry to hear about your loss. He was beautiful - our Tyson was the same: a beautiful golden pom; he went to the happy hunting ground beyond 12 years ago and I miss him every day, but know he is happy there and we will see him again.

    Prayers being sent your way ...

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    1. I am sorry to hear about your Tyson. Knowing that he is in a far better place does make all of this a lot easier.
      Thank-you.

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  10. Oh, Suzanne, I am so sorry for your loss. It breaks your heart in a billion tiny pieces and the heart takes time to heal.

    This was sent to me when my boy Rip died and I wanted to share it with you

    He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog." (Gene Hill)

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  11. So sorry to hear about your Charlie, Suzanne. Our dogs find such deep spots in our hearts and it's very hard to let them go. I can't count the number of times we've spent at family gatherings around the dinner table laughing about the antics of our dogs. Their memories keep our hearts warm, don't they? I hope his memories help you during this difficult time.

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  12. What a beautiful dog. Thank you for sharing his story. You were both so lucky to have each other.

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    1. Thank-you Meg. Yes, he was beautiful - inside and out.

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  13. This brought tears to my eyes. It is so wonderful to have the love of a dog as they love us regardless of our faults. It hurts so when they pass because they are our family. I lost my 13 year old poodle in January and his groomer sent me this poem by Teri Harrison:
    Paw prints Left By You
    You no longer greet me
    As I walk through the door
    You're not there to make me smile
    To make me laugh anymore.
    Life seems quite without you
    You were far more than a pet.
    You were a family member, a friend
    ....a loving soul I'll never forget.
    It will take time to heal
    For the silence to go away.
    I still listen for you
    And miss you every day.
    You were such a great companion,
    Constant, loyal, and true.
    My heart will always wear
    The paw prints left by you.

    Praying for your peace and comfort, Suzanne.

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    1. I am sorry for the loss of your poodle. It was very sweet of your groomer and of you to send this beautiful poem. Thank-you Donna.

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  14. Oh, Suzanne, I'm backtracking and just saw this post. I'm so very sorry for your loss of Charlie! Our dogs truly steal our hearts, don't they?
    Love and hugs,
    -andi

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  15. Sweet friend I know this pain. It's been a while since our sweet Rusty passed, but it feels like yesterday. When you have a dog that is so intertwined in your life you miss them so dearly! I feel for your loss and hope that your heart will mend soon. Blessings, kim

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    1. Your kind words are much appreciated. Thank-you Kim.

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