Golden Retreiver Devotion - Dusty and Gordie - A Poem Celebrating Love

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

-Unknown

...always there with a tail waggin and a soft, tender touch.

...when I returned from distant journeys, they danced at the door.

...they gave me more loved than I had ever planned.

Life has angels that take your hand and guide you through your life. We loose our grandparents and our parents too soon in our lives. Our children are busy with life. And I often say that life gets in the way. Time is precious, yet more precious than time is the memories of those who walk alongside of us.

When my husband was suspecting that he might have the same cancer as his father, we pondered getting another dog. When he asked me the question but what if I am really ill - my reply was immediate, no hesitation - then we definitely need a dog back in our life.

Some things in life may seem like traumas at the time yet trusting and later seeing the trauma was for the best later on is what makes us wiser.

We ended up with two Golden Retrievers - brothers from the same liter but completely different in personality and appearance. Both were brilliant but Dusty was also wise, Gordie was impetuous and could be counted upon to be the troublemaker. Together they were the dynamic duo. When I had tried the electric fence, it worked and the dogs were trained very quickly until Dusty discovered IF you ran through really quickly it didn't hurt as much and of course he shared that knowledge with his brother Gordie!

Dusty and Gordie when they were puppies were my husband's constant companion during his pancreatic cancer. I was working and my husband's brother would drive him to his treatments. Daily they would walk the dogs together - one dog for each of them. Imagine two men in their late fifties walking two Golden puppies daily.

Sadly my husband lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. I was left with my two furry companions who were a tremendous help to me. Days when I didn't wish to get up were not an option. They were always there and always playful.

I married my first husband when I was 28 and he was 56. It was not the the typical relationship. The ages didn't mean anything to us but that is a story for another time. 20 years later, when I was 48 I married my soul mate, my husband today. My first husband was stellar and was greatly loved far and wide. My second husband is his equal and much better for me, I truly believe there are soul mates and to have that miracle during a lifetime is very special.

I believe angels come and go in our lives and yet there is always an angel with us. My new then boyfriend (my husband today) met my dogs (aka "the boys") and wrote this poem in celebration of them.

Dusty and Gordie went to heaven on a day with a rainbow. Rainbows are said to be God's way of saying never again will I subject you to so much trauma. I needed visual reminder, a sign from above that all was well and the world would have sunshine again.The boys came into my life on a cold February day and left on a cold February day. The day they departed the heavens were joyous and displayed the most remarkable rainbow. The beauty of that rainbow is forever cast in my memory.

The rainbow was right, the next chapter of my life was without Dusty and Gordie but with the love of my life. Dogs are life's inspirations. They carry you over the bridges of trauma, they inspire you and devote their love to you. Our human challenge is truly to live up to the devotion.

My soul mate, my husband took the "boys" literally as his sons. Life blessed us with having a chance for my husband to know the boys completely and he grew to understand how important this chapter was in my life. I share this very special poem with you to uplift your spirit as the boys did mine each and every day. I was privileged to be with them for their short time here on earth. The boys' love and devotion remains with my husband and I each and every day - often not spoken but always present with us. The many fond memories live on - they remain our daily inspiration.

I remember so well the day they entered my life

Brothers they were, one for the husband and one for the wife

From puppies to manhood Dusty and Gordie taught me so much

Always there with tail waggin and a soft, tender touch

With each passing day I became a proud parent and they grew to be sons

Always playful and a happy and ready for fun

When I returned from distant journeys they danced at the door

With a twinkle in their eyes that I will forever adore

As I faced life's challenges often swimming against the tide

Each step of the way gave me the support to weather the ride

So, if someone were to ask me what made them so grand

Humbly, I would reply that they gave me more love than I ever planned

Without Dusty and Gordie life just won't be the same

That's why I yearn for my memories to whisk me away from this pain

When I kneel down tonight and thank God for my gifts

You can be assured that Dusty and Gordie are still right there at the top of my list

DOG (Spelled Backward)

When God had made the earth and sky,
The flowers and the trees.
He then made all the animals,
The fish, the birds and bees.
And when at last He'd finished,
Not one was quite the same.
He said, "I'll walk this world of mine,
And give each one a name."
And so He traveled far and wide
And everywhere He went,
A little creature followed Him
Until its strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
And in the sky and sea,
The little creature said, "Dear Lord,
There's not one left for me."
Kindly the Father said to him,
"I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
And called you dog, my friend."

Author Unknown

DON'T GRIEVE TOO LONG

Don't grieve too long for now I'm free
I've followed the path God set for me
I ran to Him when I heard His call
I swished my tail and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To bark, to love, to romp or play
Games left unplayed must stay that way
I found such peace, it made my day.

My parting has left you with a void
Please fill it with remembered joy
A friendship shared, your laugh, a kiss
Oh yes, these things I too shall miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life's been full, you've given so much
Your time, your love and gentle touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief
Lift up your head and share with me
God wanted me, He set me free!

Author Unknown