Once we talked about happiness with friends and someone said happiness is pets.
This made me think. Certainly there are many people to whom happiness is pets, without doubt. Our animal friends love us unconditionally and are always happy to see us. I once heard a saying "If heaven doesn´t allow pets, I don´t want to go."
And then my brother sent me this beautiful story by an anonymous writer. It really touched my heart. I would love to know who wrote this, just to say thank you. This is such a beautiful, heart warming story I wish to share it with everyone.
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The
man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly
occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the faithful dog walking by his side had
been dead for many years. He wondered where the road
was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone
wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine
marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a
tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was
standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the
arch made from mother of pearl, and the street that
led to the gate made from pure gold. He and the dog
walked toward the gate, and as he got
closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out.
- Excuse me, where are we?
- This is heaven, sir, the man answered.
- Really? Tell me - Would you happen to have some water? We have traveled
far, the man said.
- Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
- Can my friend some in too? the man gestured toward his dog
- I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.
The man thought a moment, remembering all the
years this dog remained loyal to him and then turned
back toward the road and continued the way he had been
going. The dog faithfully walked by his side.
After another long walk he came to a plain dirt
road which led through a farm gate that looked as if
it had never been closed. There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning
against a tree and reading a book.
- Excuse me! he called to the reader, - Do you have any water? We have
traveled far.
- Yes, sure, there's a pump over there, the man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. - Come on in and help yourself.
- How about my friend here? the traveler gestured to his dog.
- There should be a bowl by the pump. He is welcome to come in.
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an
old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The
traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink
himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back
toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting
for them.
- What do you call this place?? the traveler
asked.
- This is heaven, was the answer.
- Well, that's confusing, the traveler said, - You see the man down
the road at the golden gate said that was heaven, too.
- Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly
gates? Nope. That´s no heaven. That's hell.
- Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name
like that?
- No. We're just happy that they screen out the
folks who'd leave their best friends behind.
If you have ever held your animal friends in your arms when it was time to put them to sleep, you certainly know what it means when someone says happiness is pets. The loss can be so heartbreaking - but after the initial sorrow come the wonderful memories. I rememebr each of my pets with great gratitude for the beautiful memories of friendship I now have, thanks to them.
If you are afraid of getting an animal friend just because you will lose your animal one day, don´t hesitate. The love shared is so much more valuable.
There are many animal shelters that truly appreciate all the help you can give - either by adopting a pet or by helping them by some other means.
Happiness is pets - at least such a great part of the happy moments in my life have come through pets I wholeheartedly agree with this saying.
Yes, happiness is pets, there´s no doubt about that.