Prayer for pets #1

Heavenly Father, Creator of all things, thank you for having entrusted us with a loyal pet.

Thank you for letting him teach us unselfish love.

Thank you for the memories that we can recall to brighten our days for the rest of our lives.

Finally, in gratitude, we return our pet to you.

Amen.

Prayer for pets #2

Heavenly Father... We know that not even a sparrow falls without your knowledge, so we know that you are here with us today.

Although this beloved companion animal will be missed very much, we give thanks to you for allowing us to have so many wonderful years with her. Thank you for this and for all thy blessing, Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for pets #3

Lord Almighty God, this animal brought sunshine to us and was a vital part of our lives.

His passing has created a void in our hearts that cannot be filled.

We do not question the will of God, but ask Him to be merciful in our loss.

Amen.

Prayer for pets #4

Our Heavenly Father, we know that Thy love is so great that not even a sparrow falls without your knowledge.

We feel that it is with understanding that you look down on a scene like this today,when that which was so much loved is gone.

As this pet was unto her caretakers, ever loyal, ever faithful, may we, as we leave this place of solitude (burial) resolve that to our Master Christ, we too find strength to be more loyal
and faithful. Give us strength, for we ask it in the Masteršs name.

Amen.

Prayer for pets #5

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Saint Francis of Assisi
-- The Patron Saint of Animals

A POEM FOR THE GRIEVING...

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die...

-Anonymous

The Last Battle
If it should be that I grow frail and weak
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this--the last battle--can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
Don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears
You'd not want me to suffer, so.
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me til the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
it is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close--we two--these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
-Author Unknown

MY FOREVER PET

There's something missing in my home,

I feel it day and night,

I know it will take time and strength

before things feel quite right.

But just for now, I need to mourn,

My heart -- it needs to mend.

Though some may say, "It's just a pet,"

I know I've lost a friend.

You've brought such laughter to my home,

and richness to my days.

A constant friend through joy or loss

with gentle, loving ways.

Companion, friend, and confidante,

A friend I won't forget.

You'll live forever in my heart,

My sweet, forever pet.

-- Susanne Taylor

Lend Me A Puppy

“I will lend to you for awhile a puppy,” God said,

“For you to love when she lives and to mourn when she’s dead.

Maybe for twelve or thirteen years, maybe for two or three,

However, will you, till I call her back, take care of her for me?

She’ll bring her charms to gladden you and should her stay be brief,

You’ll always have her memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return.

But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn.

I’ve looked the whole world over in search for teachers true

And from the folk that crowd life’s land, I have chosen you.

Now will you give her all your love, nor think the labor vain?

Nor hate me when I come to take my dog back home again?

He fancied that he heard us say “Dear Lord, Thy will be done,

For all the joys this dog will bring, the risk of grief we’ll run.

We’ll shelter her with tenderness; we’ll love her while we may

And for the happiness we’ve known, forever-grateful stay.

But should You call her back to You much sooner than we’ve planned,

We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

If by our love we’ve managed Your wishes to achieve

In memory of her we loved, please help us while we grieve.

When our faithful bundle departs this world of strife,

We’ll get yet another dog and love her all her life.”  

Anonymous Author

She did not know that she was dead,
  But, when the pang was o'er,
Sat down to wait her Master's tread
  Upon the Golden Floor,

With ears full-cock and anxious eye
  Impatiently resigned;
But ignorant that Paradise
  Did not admit her kind.

Persons with Haloes, Harps, and Wings
  Assembled and reproved;
Or talked to her of Heavenly things,
  But Dinah never moved.

There was one step along the Stair
  That led to Heaven's Gate;
And, till she heard it, her affair
  Was--she explained--to wait.

And she explained with flattened ear,
  Bared lip and milky tooth--
Storming against Ithuriel's Spear
  That only proved her truth!

Sudden--far down the Bridge of Ghosts
  That anxious spirits clomb--
She caught that step in all the hosts,
  And knew that he had come.

She left them wondering what to do,
  But not a doubt had she.
Swifter than her own squeal she flew
  Across the Glassy Sea;

Flushing the Cherubs every where,
  And skidding as she ran,
She refuged under Peter's Chair
  And waited for her man.

.     .     .     .     .     .     .       

There spoke a Spirit out of the press,
  'Said:--"Have you any here
That saved a fool from drunkenness,
  And a coward from his fear?

"That turned a soul from dark to day 
  When other help was vain;
That snatched it from Wanhope and made
  A cur a man again?"

"Enter and look," said Peter then,
  And set The Gate ajar.
"If I know aught of women and men
  I trow she is not far."

"Neither by virtue, speech nor art
  Nor hope of grace to win;
But godless innocence of heart
  That never heard of sin:

"Neither by beauty nor belief
  Nor white example shown.
Something a wanton--more a thief--
  But--most of all--mine own."

"Enter and look," said Peter then,
  "And send you well to speed;
But, for all that I know of women and men
  Your riddle is hard to read."

Then flew Dinah from under the Chair,
  Into his arms she flew--
And licked his face from chin to hair
  And Peter passed them through!

On Prayer

"One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer."

G. E. Lessing
German Dramatist
(1729 - 1781)

"Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action."

"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart."

Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Philosopher
(1869-1948)

"Prayer is an important practice that serves to internalize the ideals of the Buddhist path."

G. R. Lewis
Buddhist Faith
Fellowship Founder

"Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of himself. "

Mother Teresa
(1910 - 1997)

"To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing."

Rev. Martin Luther King
Minister and Civil Rights Leader
(1929 - 1968)

"No prayer is complete without presence." 

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Persian Sufi Mystic 
  (1207-1273) 

"In prayer, it is better to have heart without words, than words without heart."

John Bunyan
Puritan Minister and Writer
(1628-1688)

"Our prayers must mean something to us if they are to mean anything to God."

Maltbie Davenport Babcock
Presbyterian Minister and Poet
1858-1901