Woof, Woof, my friends! Well Christmas is almost here! It is time for my heavenly pals and I to journey back to our little piece of heaven that we call home. You see it is almost time for the big Christmas celebration for Jesus!
      We love watching you from up here in doggy heaven, seeing you busy getting ready for this wonderful time of the year! Buying gifts, baking cookies, having gatherings to express gratitude and thanks to family, friends, employees, all who have somehow touched your lives in some way!
      What a joyous time, such a happy time! Cares and worries are somehow put aside in preparation for the Holiday season. Smiles and kind words grace others we meet! Christmas lights brighten the night. From up here they look like little stars surrounding your homes with peace! Such a beautiful sight. Oh and the children, excitement can be seen in their eyes in anticipation for a special gift that they will find lying under the tree on Christmas morning.
      We reach the top of our meadow hill and stop to gaze around. Lab Dutch barks, “it’s a beautiful sight!” Lab Remington barks in, “what a pawsitively grand feeling to see our piece of heaven again.” “Yea, the other parts of heaven all offered a wonderful new adventure, but there is no feeling like being back home again”, howls Lab Ruger.
      Lab Sebastian starts to walk over to the large open field, and we all follow! There are hundreds of dogs and cats all gathering, barking and meowing, with excitement. I glance upward and notice a large bright shining star, marking the sight where all the heavenly animals are to come for the great birthday Christmas celebration.
      We find a spot in the field and lie down! As we lie there in silence, thoughts begin to take us back to our earthly homes and to the masters whom we shared our Christmas’s with. Dog Rasta barked, “I so remember the special Christmas cookies, all decorated with bright colors, that my masters would give me on Christmas morning.” “I often wished I could have given my masters a gift for all the love and care they gave to me,” Lab Kachina barks.
      “But you did”, I barked. “Each one of us gave our masters gifts! Special gifts for a lifetime.....a lifetime of doggy kisses, a lifetime of comfort, a lifetime of companionship, a lifetime of quiet walks, a lifetime of love, a lifetime of joy, a lifetime of loyalty, a lifetime of tail waggin’. These gifts will remain inside our master’s hearts throughout each and every day of their lives.”
      Feline Lucky meows, “yes these gifts are priceless treasures.” Feline Squeeky purrs, “it’s the simple things in life that we remember the most.” “I remember once hearing someone exclaim, enjoy the simple things for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things”, Lab Dutch barked, “now I understand.” The group gives out a dog sigh in agreement.
      Lab Sady the Rainbow Bridge guard dog stops by, “I couldn’t help over hearing your barks! I wanted to wish each of you a Merry Christmas! You know I met each one of you when we walked together across the Rainbrow Bridge upon your arrival here in heaven. Each of you were saddened at having to leave your masters behind on earth. You each devoted your life to them, loving them unconditionally, and you will always hold them close to your heart.”
      Lab Sady continued, “Christmas is all about the heartfelt gifts you give of yourselves, to others! Your masters’ hearts will always wear pawprints left by you.”
      We notice the dogs and cats have all risen to their feet, jumping, howling, wiggling with excitement. It’s Christmas! Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Peace on earth, good will to men! Our tails are a waggin’........Happy Paw-lidays to you! Love, peace and wags, Gretta
     
      Gretta, a Golden Retriever, spent almost 15 years at The Boardman News. She greeted all who entered with a wag of her tail! She died in November of 2012.
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