I'd like to take a few moments of your time and tell you a story.
A true story.
Once upon a time... (That's how all good stories begin, right?)
Anywhoo.... Once upon a time there was a middle aged, single woman who lived all alone (well except every other weekend when her children would visit)
For many years she thought she would spend the rest of her life alone, without anyone to share life's little moments with.
One day, she was introduced to a not so charming prince (or so she thought at the time)
However, after several meetings with the prince, she decided he wasn't so bad after all.
They courted for several months and then both of them realized they were falling in love (isn't love the grandest thing EVER?)
Now, this once not so charming prince was now perfectly charming and the middle aged woman's Mr. Right Prince. He came with some baggage and was part of a package deal (translation- two kids, a past, and a dog!)
The woman couldn't refuse HIS baggage because she too came with baggage of her own and she also was a package deal (translation- a past and two kids).
A true story.
Once upon a time... (That's how all good stories begin, right?)
Anywhoo.... Once upon a time there was a middle aged, single woman who lived all alone (well except every other weekend when her children would visit)
For many years she thought she would spend the rest of her life alone, without anyone to share life's little moments with.
One day, she was introduced to a not so charming prince (or so she thought at the time)
However, after several meetings with the prince, she decided he wasn't so bad after all.
They courted for several months and then both of them realized they were falling in love (isn't love the grandest thing EVER?)
Now, this once not so charming prince was now perfectly charming and the middle aged woman's Mr. Right Prince. He came with some baggage and was part of a package deal (translation- two kids, a past, and a dog!)
The woman couldn't refuse HIS baggage because she too came with baggage of her own and she also was a package deal (translation- a past and two kids).
The two married and everyone's stuff became everyone else's stuff and a family grew and learned what being a blended family meant.
They all grew to love one another very much, yes, even the dog (after all, pets are not just pets, they are part of the family too!)
They all grew to love one another very much, yes, even the dog (after all, pets are not just pets, they are part of the family too!)
Several years passed and Mr. Right Prince, the kids, and the dog stole the woman's heart!
She couldn't imagine how she had ever survived without all of them or imagine her life without every single one of them now! (Somehow love does that, it erases all of the years of being lonely and makes us forget).
This is where the story takes sort of a turn...so hang on!
Oh, how that dog aggravated the woman sometimes. He always seemed to be underfoot, but she loved him just the same. He would follow her around, wait for her outside the bathroom door when she showered, and lay next to her side of the bed at night.
He never failed to meet and greet her at the door when she would walk in at night after a long day at work, nor stop for a petting when she collapsed on the couch for a bit.
One day, the dog took sick! Oh, he was so sick. The woman cared for him, even hand feeding him water to ensure he didn't dehydrate. She petted him, cooed to him and told him how very much she loved him and she PRAYED.
Prayed that he would get better. That God would see fit to help him recover. (God's will is often not our own)
She continued to pray for the dog to recover.
He didn't... (theres a huge void when we lose someone we love, isn't there?)
She couldn't imagine how she had ever survived without all of them or imagine her life without every single one of them now! (Somehow love does that, it erases all of the years of being lonely and makes us forget).
This is where the story takes sort of a turn...so hang on!
Oh, how that dog aggravated the woman sometimes. He always seemed to be underfoot, but she loved him just the same. He would follow her around, wait for her outside the bathroom door when she showered, and lay next to her side of the bed at night.
He never failed to meet and greet her at the door when she would walk in at night after a long day at work, nor stop for a petting when she collapsed on the couch for a bit.
One day, the dog took sick! Oh, he was so sick. The woman cared for him, even hand feeding him water to ensure he didn't dehydrate. She petted him, cooed to him and told him how very much she loved him and she PRAYED.
Prayed that he would get better. That God would see fit to help him recover. (God's will is often not our own)
She continued to pray for the dog to recover.
He didn't... (theres a huge void when we lose someone we love, isn't there?)
The woman and Mr. Right Prince struggled with how best to handle this extremely sad and overwhelming situation. How were they supposed to just dispose of a member of their family? (they wouldn't really have just disposed of him, they wouldn't have had the heart)
They didn't live a luxurious life and had little extra for things that came unexpectedly.
Through their tears, the woman's mother offered a burial spot in her backyard. Could they bury their precious dog? They didn't think so.
That's when it happened.
That's when Kindness showed up in the form of the woman's nephew!
The woman's nephew saw the family's pain, knew it himself, after all he too had suffered the loss of a family pet who wasn't just a pet but a member of the family.
The Kindness nephew told the woman and Mr. Right Prince that HE would pay for the dogs cremation and urn so they could bring their family member home to stay forever.
They didn't live a luxurious life and had little extra for things that came unexpectedly.
Through their tears, the woman's mother offered a burial spot in her backyard. Could they bury their precious dog? They didn't think so.
That's when it happened.
That's when Kindness showed up in the form of the woman's nephew!
The woman's nephew saw the family's pain, knew it himself, after all he too had suffered the loss of a family pet who wasn't just a pet but a member of the family.
The Kindness nephew told the woman and Mr. Right Prince that HE would pay for the dogs cremation and urn so they could bring their family member home to stay forever.
Here stood a 17 year old boy, willing to give up what little money he had to help ease the suffering of another. (Aren't most teenagers more self-ISH than self-LESS?)
Mr. Right Prince and the woman couldn't believe the kindness nephew would do such a thing. They didn't deserve the kindness being offered to them.
The kindness nephew told them he wanted to do it because they shouldn't have to go through this alone. He had the money and it would be an honor to help ease some of their pain.
But you see, kindness isn't about whether someone deserves it. It's about giving of one's self in order to help someone else and not expecting anything in return. The kindness nephew was wise beyond his years.
The story doesn't end here. For once Kindness is given, it can never be kept. It must continue to move forward and be given away.
Tears, pain, and sadness are fleeting, but memories last a lifetime,
And so
The family will be paying the kindness nephew back, because they intend to PAY THE KINDNESS FORWARD!
Mr. Right Prince and the woman couldn't believe the kindness nephew would do such a thing. They didn't deserve the kindness being offered to them.
The kindness nephew told them he wanted to do it because they shouldn't have to go through this alone. He had the money and it would be an honor to help ease some of their pain.
But you see, kindness isn't about whether someone deserves it. It's about giving of one's self in order to help someone else and not expecting anything in return. The kindness nephew was wise beyond his years.
The story doesn't end here. For once Kindness is given, it can never be kept. It must continue to move forward and be given away.
Tears, pain, and sadness are fleeting, but memories last a lifetime,
And so
The family will be paying the kindness nephew back, because they intend to PAY THE KINDNESS FORWARD!
In loving memory
Sammy
Beloved pet, friend, and family member
Who passed 11/12/14 @11:50 am.
Sammy
Beloved pet, friend, and family member
Who passed 11/12/14 @11:50 am.