Sunday Kipling And A Special Thank You

Lu and I wanted to send each of you a special thank you for your prayers, well wishes, thoughts and general positive energy. We can't thank you enough but we will try. It's below the poem.

But first a poem. Was there any doubt which it would be today?

The Power Of The Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie --
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find -- it's your own affair --
But . . . you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit hat answered your every mood
Is gone -- wherever it goes -- for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept'em, the more do we grieve;

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long --
So why in -- Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear? 

The power of a dog is rivaled only by the power of prayer. 

Know that yours worked beyond our hopes. Angus is 

recovering so well and seems to have put the pain of his 

injury and loneliness of his hospital stay behind him in a

way we could scarcely hope for. We will forever be in your 

debt. This is for each and every one of you. It's a small 

enough gesture but please know that it is heartfelt and 

given with love and gratitude. The pictures are yours to 

do with as you please. Click to enlarge.

Our thank you gift to you, small as it is. Friends 

are more precious than gold and jewels. We are richer 

today by far than we have ever been before. If I 

missed anyone please accept my apology with the 

explanation that my tears of joy may have blinded me 

just a little. 

Our prayer for each of you is that your kindness be 

returned to you a thousand fold. We will never forget.

Six, Lu, and Angus