When I was four years old, my mother died of cancer. I don’t remember much about that time except a feeling of extreme loss and loneliness. My Dad was wonderful, but he was trying to work full-time, take care of a four and two-year-old, plus grieve his wife. My aunts did their best to try and understand what I was going through and help me, but no human understood what I was feeling. How could they? I didn’t even know what I was feeling!
But . . .
There was a very special dog named Cocoa who always seemed to understand what I was feeling and was always there for me. Cocoa was a standard poodle who when he stood on his hind legs could put his front legs on my Dad’s shoulder and dance with him. He was an enormous dog who loved me.
Night time was filled with fear and sadness. In the back of my mind, I always wondered if the next morning when I woke up, would my Dad be gone too? I didn’t know what cancer was, only that one day my Mom was there, and now she was never coming back. Cocoa knew how I felt because every night when I went to bed, he would come with me. He would pace around the bed, and as my eyes closed, he would get up on the end of the bed and fall asleep. He would always be there when I woke up in the morning.
During the day if I was feeling sad, he would come and cuddle up to me, and I remember crying into his soft fur and feeling safe. He was my best friend and I don’t know how I would have made it through that time without him.
“During the day if I was feeling sad, he would come and cuddle up to me, and I remember crying into his soft fur and feeling safe.”
Pets have a wonderful way of bringing comfort when we need it the most. When my Dad died almost 14 years ago, it was my pet Joshua who helped see me through that time. What a wonderful gift my two pets have been to me, and I am so thankful for their love and kindness in my life.
If you are feeling sad today, then take the time to let your dog love on you today. You will find great comfort in their gentleness and joy in their love
Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash
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How does the special dog in your life comfort you during hard times?