Anonymous Poem - A Golden Puppy

A Golden Puppy

I'll lend to you for a little while,
A Golden pup, God said,
For you to love her while she lives,
and mourn for when she's dead.
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years
or only two or three,
But will you, 'till I call her back,
Take care of her for me?

She'll bring her charm to gladden you,
And should her stay be brief,
You'll always have her memories 
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay,
since all from death return,
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn

I've looked the whole world over,
In search of teachers true,
And from all the folks that crowd life's land
I have chosen you.
Now will you give her all your love
Nor think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to take
My Golden back again.

I fancied that U hear you say
Dear Lord thy will be done,
For all the joys this pup will bring
The risk of grief I'll run.
I'll shelter her with tenderness
I'll love her while I may,
And for the happiness I've known
Forever grateful stay.

But should you come to call her back
much sooner than I planned,
I'll face the bitter grief that comes
and try to understand.
If by my love I've managed
Your wishes to achieve,
In memory of her I loved, to help
me when I grieve.

When my faithful friend departs
This great big world of strife,
I'll have another Golden pup
And love her all my life.

Anonymous

Shared by cubbysan at the Golden Retriever Forum. It was collected years ago and source is unknown. If you know the author of this poem please share so they can be credited. 

Rudyard Kipling's Poem - A Dog for Jesus

A Dog for Jesus
(Where dogs go when they die)

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.
It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.
With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master's Heart.
And when Jesus rose on Easter mourn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it's delight,
For The One who died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine.
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
Knowing they're in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, "Wait, I'm coming with you!"
And trotted along behind.

Rudyard Kipling

Poem Source: http://prayersforpets.org/poems1.htm

Dog, My Friend

When God had made the earth and sky, the flowers and the trees. He then made all the animals and all the birds and bees. And when his work was finished, and not one was quite the same. He said "I'll walk this Earth of mine and give each one a name". And so he traveled land and sea, and everywhere he went, a little creature followed him, until it's strength was spent. When all were named upon the earth, and in the sky and sea, the little creature said, "Dear Lord, there's not one left for me." The Father smiled, and softly said, "I've left you to the end, I've turned my own name back to front, and called you, "Dog, my friend".

Author Unknown  (Source).

God's Golden Retrievers

God decided that human beings needed a reminder that He was their best friend. While dogs are known as "man's best friend", it wasn't any dog but a Golden Retriever that God chose to reflect His character.  

I am extremely loyal to human beings; I love them each as if they were the only person in the world. My favorite thing to do is spend time with humans and I cry when I am left alone. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I have a kind and gentle temperment. I have the personality and intelligence to rescue people in times of disaster or serve as a companion to the blind or deaf. I am full of compassion. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I love children and instinctly know how to act around them. If I do bite I have the characteristic of a "soft bite". I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I like to retrieve things and give them as gifts to my human. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I have big ears. I am always available to listen. I hear things even when humans don't want me to. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I am large so humans can't overlook me. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I have big, expressive, brown eyes. I see things going on even when humans don't want me to. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I have a water resistant fur coat. I am always ready to serve in any condition. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

I require plenty of exercise. Humans should spend time with me. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

My coat always comes in variations of a Gold color. This is to remind people of the streets of gold in heaven. I am a Golden Retriever. I am God.

One of the most popular breeds in the dog world today, the Golden Retriever's appearance, personality, and standards show that truly God knew what he was doing when he created this animal. The question is whether humans will understand what God was doing.

By Alan T. Stokes (Golden Retriever Owner)

Revised: October 3, 2004

Golden Bridge

An Adaptation of The Rainbow Bridge Story for Golden Retrievers

Just this side of Heaven is a place called The Golden Bridge. When a Golden Retriever dies that has been especially close to someone here, that dog goes to Golden Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water, and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the Golden Retrievers who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. There are no more ear infections or hip problems for any Golden there. The Golden's are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress that beloved gold head and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Golden Bridge together........

Alan Stokes
June 19, 2013

My Golden Retriever

You encourage me to obtain the exercise I really need,
And enjoy walks leisurely but even more with speed.

Born from a genuinely loyal and devoted breed,
You make me feel like I will always succeed. 

What did you want to say to me as your tail happily moved?
I know you love me but I’d like to have any doubt removed. 

You are very friendly to any child you happen to meet. 
Helping to dry crying tears by being so funny and sweet. 

When thunder comes the world gives you such a scare,
It seems you just need to know I’m nearby and care.

It is so remarkable that you’d rather give up your bone,
Then spend one extra moment outside and all alone.

It seems you can never get enough walks with me,
Or the opportunity to chase a squirrel up a tree.

I’m grateful that God above created your kind,
And if you lived in heaven I sure wouldn’t mind.  
    
Inside your big cuddly body is a heart of gold,
Though now you are young soon you will be old.

And when your time comes to leave me I will not forget,
And it will be difficult to have any other dog for a pet. 


By Alan T. Stokes

October 1, 2001

Note:  Written about my 2 year old Golden Retriever, Shalom’s Benjamin Jacob.  A.K.A. B.J

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling to each other in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together........

Author Unknown

---

For other quotes go to the links on the Golden Light Quote Blog.