A Lesson from Harley

Just like the spirits who may come into our lives to help us, so do others. They may come for a moment, a minute, a month, a day, a year, or a lifetime, but somehow they manage to leave a mark in our lives. Sometimes, they are so innocent, that they do not even know that they are touching us so. I had the pleasure and sorrow of meeting such a special little one. She will always remain in my heart.
Harley was born a few weeks ago. From the moment I saw her, the runt of the litter, standing out  from her brothers and sisters. Her fur was a slight more orange than the gold that was on her brothers and sisters. She was smaller than the others, but something was telling me that she was the one. The breeder wants families to come and visit the pups after picking them out. She feels this helps the puppies in the transition so that they all ready recognize you as a member of her family. Each Saturday, my wife and my two kids would travel down to Ashaway, RI, about an hour ride to speed an hour with this precious little one. Terry, the breeder, would tell us how much of a tomboy she was. That even though she was small she was always getting into trouble. Two weeks ago when we came to visit, Terry's daughter went to get her so we could be with her for a bit. She was soaked. She had managed to knock over the water. Terry couldn't believe it, she had just given them baths and blow dried them so they would look nice when the families visit. Well, Terry dried her off and then passed her to my son. Harley bounded around on the floor going from my son to my daughter, then to my wife. Occasionally, they would even let her get to me. It was so good to see them smile and bond with Harley. Each week, I would be asked if this was the week we would be taking her home.
This past Saturday, we went down there and while the day was cool, the sun was out, so we took her out in the yard to play. She was bounding all over the place. She didn't quite walk but rather seemed to bounce along. Her short legs going ninety miles an hour. Everyone was laughing and happy. We just couldn't wait to take her home this weekend. Myself, I always loved dogs and was never without one as a kid. In my adult life, where I lived, or my partner at the time did not allow for dogs. I was finally going to have another dog and boy was she beautiful.
Sunday, we went to visit my niece at her new apartment. I was sitting with the guys watching the Revolution lose to Houston in the MLS cup finals before switching back to the Indy game. I looked around at my wife and saw her on the phone, the tears streaming down her face. She was trying to tell me it was Terry and at first it didn't register. Then my heart sunk and the tears welled up for I knew. Poor Terry was beside herself. She had all she could do to call us. She had told us about losing her own mother that Friday and having to bury her this Wednesday. Now, some of the puppies were dying. She said that she had Harley at the vets Saturday night. She had gone into convulsions. They tried all they could do to keep her alive, but in the end she passed on.
For the past few days, I have had bouts of tears as I remember her bounding along the grass. I remember her in my kids arms. When I think about having to tell them. They do not know yet as I don't see them until Wednesday and I don't want to tell them over the phone. All we have left of her is the pictures that we have taken. We have to find my daughter's camera as it contains those pictures of the last day of Harley's life.
We may end up taking one of her brothers. For some reason, no one seemed to want the boys. Terry says there is another litter coming in December. I told my wife that if we can and if the boys are healthy, we should take Harley's brother. This way we have one of her family with us. Maybe that was what was intended.
I said in the title that there was a lesson in this. During my prayers this morning, which themselves are difficult because part of you wants to lash out, something came to me. This little bundle of fur, whose life was cut so short, did nothing but be. Yet, she touched four hearts so deeply, and brought joy into their lives. She did nothing. She just was.
If this wonderful being, could touch our lives by just being, how much more joy can we bring to each other? Why can't we just be and bring joy to others? Why can't we open our hearts to each other. Come together as one heart, one spirit, to bring joy and happiness to the world? Can it be that hard? Harley did it to all the people she touched, just by being.
I pray that I can carry that spirit with me always. I pray that in my interractions with people that I leave them with a sense that they are loved, that there is hope, that this world can be a wonderful place.
Harley, honey, wherever you are, know that my heart is with you. I love you.