My Very Special Sister

A Very Special Sister

For many years we've shared our lives
One roof we once lived under
Sometimes we laughed, sometimes we cried
Through winter storms and thunder
The younger years have faded fast
We've gone our separate ways
But through all time our friendship lasts
Our bond in life remains
As summer brings the happy times
The autumn winds will whisper
A closer friend I'd never find
Than the one I call my Sister.

When my sister and I were kids we used to run in the fields where my dad was working not far from our little home with the wood burning stove. We would watch the dark clouds as they began to roll over above us. We'd hear the thunder and pretended that God was playing with a bowling ball. We knew lightening would follow soon. We could see our little house off in the distance and start running, laughing and yelling to each other. Once the lightening started, we would "dive" into the small waterless ditches along the field. We'd lay there side by side watching the lightening spread it's amazing rays across the sky. We'd look at each other and smile. I was scared, but I knew as long as she was there with me, I was ok. Once the rain began to fall, we'd run toward the house, entering drenched in rain. I remember those days and I know that she does, too. I was 4 and she was 5.

My sister has cancer. What do I do now? She has a lot of faith, I need to have faith, too. She tells me to stay positive and I will -- for her. We have a fight ahead of us so that when this is over, we can smile and laugh again. I love my sister. God bless her.

Beloved Pets

A quick thought -- remember the movie "Homeward Bound" or something like that about the pets that make it back home? There's always hope. . .

Our Beloved Pets

When I was young, we had a dog named King. He was a long-haired German Shepard. He was a gentle and faithful dog. He was not a barker nor did he run after cars or people. We were eight children at the time and maybe some were more attached to King than others. I saw him as our best dog, petted him and loved him. He loved to chase after porcupines and boy, did he use to pay for that. At first we would take him to the vet until the vet showed us how to remove those painful quills. Then we started to do it ourselves, laughing and caressing him at the same time. Silly dog. One day, someone poisoned him and we were very sad. We don't know why, it didn't matter, what mattered was that he was gone. I think I decided then that I would never attach myself to another dog again. It was too painful.

Then I met my Una, a little German Shephard puppy that my honey gave me when we were dating. I loved her the moment I saw her. That summer I went home for a little while that turned into a longer while. During this time, little Una died of distemper. Again I was saddened. No more dogs...

Many years have passed and El Grito came into our lives. Oh, that El Grito! He was a character. A little Chihuahua. At first I kept him at bay, but he won me over with his pleading little eyes :-). When we said "Boom!" he would lay down and roll over, playing like he was "dead." One day he got out and was killed by a neighbor's bigger dog. I had never been so sad about a little dog in my life. My heart broke.

I think they say when we pass on, our pets will be there waiting for us also. I don't know if this is true, but it's good to think it may be.

My mija's dogs were taken not too long ago and I know she hurts. I wish I could tell her that this, too, will pass, but the love you feel for these beloved pets never fades. You remember them always. It's like your life is made of different compartments that you pull out to look at. There are mementos of that time, happy and sad. You laugh and you cry of the memories left behind. We see the future compartments and wonder with anticipation of what memories will be stored in there and it brings a smile to our faces because we know happy times will once again occupy these spaces. But we won't forget our pets. They live in our hearts and in our memories. It will be ok, mija, it will be ok.

Peacefulness

Gal. 5:22,23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control."

We buried him last Tuesday. It was a nice ceremony. Our families were still divided, but that's ok. As long as we all loved him and we did. And now we go forward in life. It feels good to be back to a semblance of happiness and continuity.

We hosted a dinner "party" for some of our nieces and nephews Thursday night. My mother in law came, too. A chance to relax and like I said, enjoy life -- through their eyes this time. We laughed so much, they talked about the past, the present, and God-willing, their futures. But the best was their laughter. This is what life is about - to love and and laugh.
I'm so glad we did this -- we all needed it.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."