Text 1246, 28 rader
Skriven 2005-02-27 23:42:48 av DAVE COBLE (1:123/140)
Ärende: Short Life
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Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish
Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their
little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping
for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there
were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia
procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and
Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to
observe the procedure. They felt Shane could learn something from the
experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family
surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last
time, that! I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few
minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept
Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together
for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that
animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we
all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never
heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "Everybody is born so that
they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody and being
nice." The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already know how to do
that, so they don't have to stay as long." AMEN.
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