FAITHFUL FRIEND to the very end

Unfortunately, I knew the inevitable was approaching. My wife’s beloved dog, COOKIE had been ill and at 13 years old realized for sometime that she (and us) were on borrowed time. After returning late Thursday night, my wife, Ruth already made plans to put Cookie down. Honestly, I have officiated 100 weddings as an ordained minister and preached over 50 funerals and buried a few friends but didn’t think the loss of my wife’s dog would hurt so much.

My wife, Ruth is one of the most selfless, hardworking, gracious, unassuming beauty in the world. Ruth while working in Dallas, TX on a Christian radio station was doing a remote interview at a grand-opening of a bakery near Irving (former home of the Dallas Cowboys). At that bakery that Ruth was broadcasting LIVE she met a man who had a couple puppies for sale. Ruth whom was single immediately fell in love with this dog. She paid $30 on the spot for this dog and when asked what are you going to name her since she was just outside the bakery she smiled and said: “COOKIE.”

The two of them bonded instantly. One of the countless attributes I admire about Ruth is her faith. She was born in El Salvador but with some of the civil unrest in her country she was able to come to the United States over 20 years ago. After working in Texas for over a decade she was offered a job in radio in three different cities. She didn’t know anyone in the Nation’s Capitol but after praying about it she had peace and left her family, loved ones and her job “by faith” and made the half country trip to DC not knowing anyone! However, she wasn’t alone. She had God in her heart and Cookie by her side in that long distance trip to her new home just outside of Washington, DC.

Did you know that DOG spelled backwards is GOD? Both are loyal and loving and was present each step of the way. After adjusting to her new home, Ruth and Cookie spent endless hours together and when Ruth would return home from work Cookie was always present to meet her at the door. Cookie was a companion, confidant and constant protector. Before we met, Ruth had the luxury of having both a friend by day and a pillow and bodyguard at night. Being single and living near a major city can be dangerous for anyone (especially a single woman).

One night after moving to Maryland in the middle of the night two men began to pound on the front door and tried desperately to break down the front door. Cookie despite looking innocent had more than bark but a bite that would make RAMBO cautious. Cookie went into attack mode at Ruth’s defense and the ROAR that came from her was enough to make the would be attackers/robbers/stalkers scared and went to their Plan B – GO HOME!

Years later, I remember the first time I came to meet Cookie she treated me with a similar growl. In life, I preach grace but not accustomed to the growl of this dog! I knew I liked Ruth immediately but wasn’t sure about how I was going to connect with her dog. After a couple of visits, Cookie eased up and I began to slowly warm up to her. Ruth and I would take walks in the park with her and she loved to stick her head out the window like the pig in the GEICO commercial. She was in Heaven!

At nights, she sensed things and heard noises long before we did. Regardless, if it were the trash truck before 6AM or a deer tresspassing in our yard she was alert better than most alarms. On Friday, January 29, 2011, I knew it was her last full day on Earth. She sensed everything else and now I was wondering if she knew her time was almost up? Ruth was really having a hard time and she was trying to stay so strong because she didn’t want her little girl see her cry. While Ruth was at work, I snuck out back and recorded the video below of our COOKIE the day before she was to leave us. In my heart, I wanted to give Ruth one more memory of the one who made life so memorable (especially while she was single).

Cookie was so graceful and on Friday night it was getting hard on all of us. Ruth was trying to be strong for Cookie and I was trying to be strong for Ruth and it was difficult to fall asleep. The appointment on Saturday morning was 9AM and its not the best way to start off the weekend. Ruth wanted to take Cookie for one last walk and I felt like they started together and it would be best if they had their time together. I watched outside the window with blurry vision because I could picture Ruth and Cookie in my mind playing at that bakery where they met the first time. Riding in the car listening to the radio with alone a prayer in her heart and a dog by her side. When those thugs tried to hurt the one I would eventually marry and I wondered in that moment had it not been for GOD and her DOG I may have never walked down the aisle with my wife.

We drove to the animal hospital and at 10:12AM said our goodbyes and Cookie slipped into a sleep never to awake again. The lump in Ruth’s throat she said later was almost too much to bear and my heart was so heavy as I tried to encourage her. Sometimes saying nothing and being there means everything. No sermon, no Scripture, no quotes but just held her.

One of the most powerful pictures that has been embroidered in my mind for 25 years is a picture I saw in my father’s law enforcement magazine. I tried to find the picture but couldn’t but the image is as vivid as ever. It was a black and white pic of a dog that was on the shoulder of a major highway. Two police cars were parked sideways with the lights flashing and a corpse lay on the road with a white sheet draped over the body. The car was mangled with the front end completely crushed and apparently the owner and his dog were involved in a fatal accident. The caption noted that the dog never once left its deceased owner’s side.

Immediately, I was reminded of Cookie. She never left Ruth and in the end Ruth never left her. Together, we walked away from the animal hospital and I recall thinking what love and loyalty. Both were loyal to the end and loving to the end. The word friEND has “end” in it. Acquantainces come and go but friends are there to the end. The rest of my days I pray to resemble more of God and more of our god. How? Faithful Friend to the very end.

(my friend, Dr Bob Morgan of Gardner-Webb Univ after learning of Cookie’s loss since this priceless story)

A Dog’s Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker ‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued, ”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!