A ten-year- old dog
named Bailey lived with a husband, wife and their little 4-year old son.
They were all very attached to Bailey and they were hoping for a miracle.
Unfortunately, Bailey was dying of cancer and there were no miracles left
for him.
Arrangements were made
for Bailey to be put down at their home. The four-year-old boy was
there to say goodbye with the parents.
Bailey's family
surrounded him. The little boy seemed so calm, petting the old dog
for the last time, that they wondered if he understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Bailey slipped peacefully away. The little boy
seemed to accept Bailey's transition without any difficulty or confusion.
They
sat together for a while after Bailey's death, wondering aloud about the
sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
The little boy
,
who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, they
all turned. What came out of his mouth next was stunning. A wonderful,
comforting explanation.
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 four-year-old
continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to
stay as long."
Live
simply & Love generously.
