Found this poem online

From time to time, people tell me,
"lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance traveled,
the time spent, or the costs involved for
"just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with
"just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was
"just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by
"just a dog,"
and in those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of "just a dog"
gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it's "just a dog,"
then you will probably understand phases
like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or
"just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence
of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and
patience that makes me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early,
take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog"
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams
of the future, the fond memories of the past,
and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and
diverts my thoughts away from myself and the
worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that
it's not "just a dog"
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps
me from being "just a man."
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog."
just smile, because they "just don't understand."

Gillian this is absolutely beautiful I particularily liked and relate so much to where it says :Thanks for sharing this.Hugs to you and Bono who inhabits you forever.

I'm leaving for work now and that poem will be hanging in my office after today. Thank you!

Gillian,

Thank you for sharing the wonderful poem with us.

I have run across people that don't undertand that my pet's are more then dogs to me. I have no children and my dogs are my babies. Obviously I don't have much to say to people that don't like animals. It's their loss because they will never know what unconditional love is.

Thank you for posting
that was better than
"Just a poem"

Not Just A Dog...for Mack

If you were the light of life...and not just a dog,
Your death would spin me around in darkness
Set me stepping on toes, and stubbing my own
A bleak world unknown...if you were the light of my life.

If you were the warmth of our home...and not just a dog
Uncle David would shrink on the doorstep.
Quaking with cold, grown suddenly old.
If you were the warmth of our home.

If you were the heart of our world...and not just a dog
Dad and I would be fearful without you.
Checking the locks, always starting at knocks.
If you were the heart of our world.

If you were longed for in heaven...and not just a dog.
Death's angel would trespass upon us
and take for his own the joy we had known
For you were the heart, and you were the home
And you were the light of my life.

Show 'em how to my dog star
You were the light of my life.

MOM

Hi Gillian:

Thank you so much for sharing that beautiful poem .

During my lifetime, I've been blessed to have cats . There have been so many times that I've heard, "she's just a cat", "you paid all that...on a cat!", etc., etc....



Those people will never know the wonderful unconditional love that we all feel.
WE are the lucky ones, aren't we ?

Peace & Love to you and yours,

Denise

Gillian,

What a great poem - thanks for sharing! Talk about true. I know I've been laughed at for my devotion to my kitties but hey, their the ones missing out on incredible relationships, not me.

-Marissa