For Gracie

This morning we are sitting in one of the most beautiful spots of God's creation - just outside Glacier National Park.

BUT, my heart is sad.  Yesterday, Gracie - Addy's sister & the dog of a dear friend of ours - passed away very unexpectedly from a rare condition called Coonhound Paralysis. Words can't express all the emotions I have felt in the last twenty-four hours.  Mostly, my heart is just breaking for Cole (her owner) and his terrible loss.  I'm sad too, of course, because I will miss Addy's best friend and partner in crime. Although Gracie and Cole had just moved home from a year living in Tampa; before that, Gracie spent almost every day at our house and, for most of her life, I considered myself her "mom." 

I'm also thinking a lot this morning about how precious life is, and how everything we have here on this earth is just on temporary loan from God.  I don't know WHY God would take Gracie so early, but I'm thankful for the gift we had of her for two and a half years and have faith that his plan is bigger than mine.  Please say a prayer for Cole today - that he would have healing, comfort, and peace of God's timing.

I know I sound like a crazy dog person, but I don't have kids yet - so a dog is the closest thing I know to loving someone who is totally dependent on you and loves you back with no strings attached.  Today is a sad day... The following is a poem Cole posted on his facebook today as a tribute to Gracie.  I don't know who originally wrote it, but it is just perfect.  Hug your pets close today! 

A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. They don't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he'll give you his. It 's quite simple, and yet we humans, so mu...ch wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not.

For Gracie (3.17.08 - 7.8.10)

You will be terribly missed!