His Love Will Live in our Hearts Forever

/ Jodi

first mate

In my job as a Director of  Corporate Communications for Hospice and Home Health, I know all the right things to write… to say… to do… when explaining the journey at end of life and the experience of loss and grieving.

But when it is your own grief, it is quite different.

Yesterday, which was a day that filled my heart to overflowing with all of your kind words and comments and love on my One-Year Blogiversary, we also experienced a great deal of grief.  We lost our best friend, our furry son, our first mate, our floor cleaner-upper, our company greeter, our deer chaser, our lap warmer, our walk companion, our dinner moocher, our tomato caper culprit, my first watercolor portrait inspiration, my sweet guest blogger….

Mikey – you have forever changed our lives.  Your spirit will live within us always.

You taught us unconditional love and exuberance over the little things.  You brought us humor and warmth and showed us the joy in a simple walk or a brief ride.

Your eyes had been telling me for a little while now, but I didn’t want to admit that though your heart and mind were strong, your body was ravaged by that ugly “C” word and causing you more pain than you deserved to endure.

From the moment your eyes locked with your Dad’s at the animal shelter that rescued you from being destroyed well before your job on this earth was done, to the day your eyes pleaded for relief, you were loved and you gave more than you received.

We are a better family, and I am a better person for having you in my life.

As your big brother Jake said, you are now in the ground giving back again.  Your beautiful cells and spirit will nourish the grounds you tromped and protected and frolicked in and create the beauty that was you.

Dad said you can now chase all the chippies and deer and squirrels you want without pain.

And brother Nick finally admits you ARE a GOOD boy… the BEST boy… the BEST Dog we were privileged to have as part of our family.  (You always knew he was just teasing you, and you simply loved him back!)

We are so sad, and we miss you so much, but we are happy for your relief.  

Thank you, my sweetness, for all that you gave us.

Rest in Peace, Sweet Mikey…

Or run like the wild wind.

Your love will live in our hearts forever.

Love,

One Lucky Momma

80 thoughts on “His Love Will Live in our Hearts Forever”

  1. SPECIAL NEEDS DOG….SOUNDS LIKE THAT’S WHAT MIKIE WAS….HAVE YOU NOTICED IN HOSPICE STUDIES PEOPLE LIVE LONGER IF THEY HAVE A DOG…….THEY ARE ALSO TRAINED TO RESPOND TO BLOOD SUGAR PROBLEMS IN DIEBETIC PATIENTS….

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  2. OH Jodie my heart goes out to you and your family!! I am so sorry for the loss of Mikey! I know how hard it is for a beloved pet to leave us and I am sad to, for I feel like I know Mikey from his wonderful guest posts! How blessed he was to have a family like yours rescue him from the shelter and what a blessing he have you all in return! Great big hugs to you! So glad you were wrapped in love yesterday by comments on your post, was meant to be. If you never read Rainbow Bridge , you have to, I am sure Mikey is having a fabulous time there! He can run and hunt all he wants and doesn’t have to worry about having to get a bath!! šŸ™‚

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  5. Words fail. I’m so sorry, my friend. What a beautiful boy Mikey was and is. We join you in your sorrow. Sending love, prayers and hugs to you. He has a new life now, and I have no doubt you and your family will see him again. ā¤ļø

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  8. Jodi, so sorry to hear of the loss of your sweet Mikey. What a lovely tribute you’ve written here to a pet who meant so much as part of your family. Missed but never forgotten, always close to your heart may he always be forever and ever.

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  10. Jodi, I knew with a sinking heart just what you would post today. My heart breaks for you and Marty and the rest of the family. When Berkley died, I was so consoled by all the lovely comments on my blog and to read how many people have felt the exact same sharp pang of loss. Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem about “giving your heart to a dog to tear.” That’s how your heart feels right now, torn up. I know. I will share with you the same quote by Irving Townsend which gave me such comfort back in October. I hope it does the same for you:
    We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own,
    live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
    Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.
    We cherish memory as the only certain immortality,
    never fully understanding the necessary plan.

    That’s what these precious animals leave behind: awful gaps. Sending love your way.

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  11. I have tears in my eyes and that’s the truth. I feel for you and Marty Jodi because I know how difficult it is to have to let go of one of our beloved pets. I’m a big softie when it comes to animals. I am one to believe that our animals go to heaven and wait for us there. He was one lucky little dog to have been rescued by you and your family and to have lived whatever years he lived with you all. I’m so sorry Jodi and I hope the memories you have of him will bring you comfort and joy and help heal the broken heart. ((HUGS))) XOXOX

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  13. It is hard for someone who is not a pet owner how devastating it is to lose a pet. There is a wound that never heals. But here are so many memories that keep the wound from bleeding. Everytime I open a Kraft cheese package I think of Spirit. Wherever she was and heard that wrapping, she came to the kitchen. Hugs.

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  14. Dear sweet Friends,
    My heart is so very Sad to think of dear sweet Mikey no longer greeting you at every turn. It is so heart wrenching that feeling…. I cried for weeks and am sure you are too. Two things I’d like to share are … 1. It is in my opinion one of life’s greatest tragedies that we are given these wonderful furry four legged creatures that overtakes our heart and life and we fully know that we are designed to out live them. It seems so wrong… Yet, 2. We must smile because it happened not cry because it’s over!!
    Blessed for all those days together and the memories…..šŸ™šŸ’—šŸ˜˜
    Hold fast to those and may the gratitude of the times and love you have shared be a comfort! Run free dear Mikey. I am sorry we didn’t get to share one more bone or one more walk or one more lap time day, but I hope my Dear Drifter is playing with you somewhere out there !
    I Love you all and sending big hugs during this time. You are each in my prayers. Love Jan

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  15. I’m so sorry for your loss. Mikey will live in your hearts through all your memories. He could not have had a better life than with you and your family. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers

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  17. Losing our beloved family pet members is heartbreaking. Their ability to touch our hearts with such joy & make us smile in our darkest moments, is unique to them & the unconditional love they offer us. How very fortunate Mikey was to be part of such a wonderful family. Wishing you a peaceful heart in the days to come.

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  18. You gave yourself your own best life raft for right now, Jodi…..”….we are happy for your relief…” You just hang on to that with every morsel of your being right now…..I’m so glad you put him before yourselves and gave him the gift of relief….he deserved no less. Be strong in the next few days and know that he’s still with each of you because from the moment he came home with you he changed the very core of every one of you.

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  23. Oh, Jodi – I’m so sorry to hear that Mikey is no longer with you. But he will live on in your hearts like you said. So hard to loose a furry friend. Sending you a big hug! Take good care of you. xoxo ā¤ļøšŸ¶ā¤ļø

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  24. I can barely see to type with all the tears in my eyes Jodi… You expressed your tender love & caring for your beloved Mikey so beautifully. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I’m glad that he was a guest blogger and that we all got to meet him up close and personal! What a special guy (and quite handsome!) Sending virtual love and hugs to you…

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  26. With tears in my eyes, I am so sad to hear of your dear Mikey’s death. Through your blog and pictures it was obvious how much you loved him. These furry friends give us so much joy and it hurts when we lose them but the joy they brought to us during the time together outweighs these few months of sadness. Much love to your and your family…and now you will learn how much floor cleaning he was doing OXOX

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    • Thank you Heather. I know you know the feeling – and you are so right – as much as I hurt right now – I wouldn’t trade having him and having to lose him all over again for the joy and love he brought while he was with us. Great love sadly often comes with great loss, but it is ever so precious.

      You are totally right about the floor! Yikes – I guess I will have to actually clean the counters now instead of just wiping things to the floor……

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  27. What a beautiful tribute to Mikey, Jodi. Sometimes you see someone and they have such a kind face that you feel like you know them and wish you did. That’s how I feel when I see Mikey. What a blessing in your life. I’m sorry for your loss but so grateful you were able to bring each other such happiness.

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  29. When paws walk into our lives, they leave us with a stronger heart. You will also find that people won’t remember your name as quickly as they remember your dogs name. You can smile, you know this is true.
    Life has a way of teaching us so much but, those paws teach us so much more.
    Hugs during these tender times.

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  30. I’m so sorry Jodi. I truly hope our pets feel no pain when they pass. It would be so unfair to creatures who bring so much love and happiness. Our old girl of a toy poodle is struggling a bit, and our kids, and grand-kids are fearing the day.

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  33. Jodi I’m so so sorry… I’d like to share these words by Tiziano Terzani, an Italian writer. They’re simple, I hope you can make them yours:

    “And remember, I’ll be there. I’ll be up in the air. So sometimes, if you want to talk to me, put yourself in a corner, close your eyes and look for me. We can talk. But not in a wordy language. In silence.”

    Hugs to all of you x

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  34. Jodi, I am so very sorry for your loss. It is so tough to lose the furry kids, they bring so much joy to our lives. Your Mikey will always hold a special place in your heart. Thinking of you and sending a big hug your way.

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  35. Jodi, I have seen some breathtakingly beautiful posts come from you while I have been following you via email. I don’t believe that I have ever commented on a post, no matter how beautiful it was. This post caused my eyes to tear up. It also prompted me to tell you that I am so sorry for your loss… AND ours. I loved seeing sweet Mikey in your posts, periodically. He was such a cute thing, and obviously a sweet companion to your family. Sending you a warm hug today, even though I don’t know you. ā¤

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    • Oh Penne – this means so much to me that you took the time to write! Thank you for your very kind words and the encouragement to carry on knowing there are folks out there following that I don’t hear from that enjoy reading. Thanks for enjoying Mikey. He was such a bright spot in our life. šŸ™‚

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  37. Jodi, I’m on vacation, so catching up with emails. So vwry sad to read this one. Mikey was in our hearts too…a favorite sometime blogger friend. My heart aches, my healing thoughts go straight to you & your family. Sammy & Charley send love & doggie kisses. Christine

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