“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” -C.S. Lewis
I wish it were otherwise, but you don’t get to feel all that love and joy and happiness without experiencing the sadness and grief and pain. You have to experience the full spectrum of emotion.
That’s the cost of opening your heart.
But I’ll pay that price every single time.
P.S. – R.I.P. dear Sawyer. We’ll miss you buddy so much. Thank you for all the love and joy and incredible memories you gave to our family.
Johnny, my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Sawyer. Thank you for including us in your grief. Shared pain is halved, shared joy is doubled. When you can, rescue another dog. No one will ever replace Sawyer but having a dog to love will help with the pain. And being loved by a dog will bring you much needed joy. My last dog died on February 25. For the first time in 30 years I live without a dog. I do not recommend it. Take good care of yourself and do not hesitate to reach out if you need support. With much love and sadness, Alex
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Thank you my friend for your kind words and support. I am so sorry that you lost your beloved dog in February. We do have another dog at home, Bandit, he’s 4 and a rescue. We might have to get another one…I hope you get one too. No doubt you would be a kind and lowing dog owner. xjc
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oh my god. Johnny. Devastating. Your hearts must be wrecked. They fill every empty space in our lives with joy and love and when they go (always too soon) there are such an ache. maybe Sawyer will lead you to another beautiful soul to be rescued and who in turn, will rescue you. So much love. 💙💜Isadora
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Thank you so much for your kind words and support Isadora. We do have another dog at home, Bandit, he’s 4 and a rescue. Quite the blessing and eases the pain a little bit. We might have to get another one too. 🙂 I hope you are doing great. xjc
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It’s a loss that only those of us privileged enough to have bathed in the love of a dog can know. xo
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Thank you Robin for this lovely sentiment. xjc
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