Letting Go: Try To See It From Another Point of View

When Kate and I worked for Hospice, we went to visit a family who had an elderly father at home. They had an old dog that was sick too. Her name was Blanca. I looked into Blanca’s eyes and I saw so much sadness there. It was more than sadness; I can't come up with an English word for it.

While Kate talked to the man and his family, I talked with Blanca. She told me that she was ready to cross over but that her master had begged her not to leave. Her master was asking her to stay, so she was staying. A dog is obedient above all else.

I learned that Blanca felt totally helpless. She was tired of living. She wanted to be free of her cumbersome body. She felt trapped. She loved her family but she suffered from a deep and painful longing to return Home. Her heavenly Master was calling for her but her earthly master was clinging to her. It was painful for her to be pulled in two different directions. She knew that I would understand. I felt very bad for her. I hoped that I would never have to live that way.

Jack McAfghan, Chapter 49

Amazon Ranked #17 : Still She Grieves

A note from Kate:

Jack made it to #17 in Pet Loss on Kindle today!  Oh Jackie! It makes me so happy! 

It's not about selling a book for $2.99. It's about giving the priceless gift of healing the those who read your story. Everyone who knew you, loved you Jack. They are still meeting you and loving you through the pages of our book. Thank you Jack. Thank you for bringing all the pets who have been loved and lost back for healing for our readers.

But wait. If I'm so happy about it, why am I crying as I post this? 
Me the expert?!  Still crying?  It will be two years in August since you crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I know I am healing because I no longer count the hours, the days, the months since you left....they are getting away from me. Where has the time gone? Why do I still cry?

The process of grief can take a long time when love runs deep.  I see this face, these eyes, this love, the offering of everything he is and was. He wanted to give me everything.  He still does. Just like our Master in Heaven does, He gives all of us everything He is. This is why pets are our greatest gift. They live for their master on earth. We are their Beloved. They are each and every one a little piece of Heaven sent to us to bless us, love us and be loved by us. It's all by Design so we know without a doubt that we are Loved. It's all about the love and the love that is waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge when the time is ripe for us to return Home.  

I am so grateful to the many readers who have become our friends. For the old and new friends who are following Jack's Page. I am thankful for the members of Jack's Pet Loss Group. So many of you have thanked me for all that I do but I thank you for all you do for me. For all you have come to mean to me. I have received so many blessings from the loss of the greatest gift I have been given so far in this lifetime. We are all healing each other, one day at a time.

It's all about the Love. 

Kate 

"These three things remain: Faith, Hope and Love...

but the greatest of these is love."  

1 Corinthians 13:13  

PTS PD Euthanization ... and GUILT

I too feel so much guilt after I euthanize a pet because, in essence, I am giving the order to kill them. I know, I know it's in their best interest but it's still so hard.

This is for anyone who believes that they took a life away. You loved enough to let the one you love go.  You freed them from being bound to a life that no longer served them. Read Jack's wisdom. You need only shift your perspective to know the truth of the matter. <3 <3 <3

When you know that you did the right thing, there is a certain amount of guilt. Your absolutely right though. I couldn't bear to see him suffer.

Yes, there is always guilt for everyone in our life who leaves here. The key is to let it go, not dwell on it.  When they look back at us, they do not see the things we feel we could have done better. They look back on us only with love, knowing we did our very best and knowing that we loved them.

Some people say they put their pets 'down' when they are really Lifting Them Up. 'Putting To Sleep' is a much better term even though it's still kind of backwards. Whatever words you use to describe it, you are helping us. Don't ever question your decision again. It's the most loving thing you can do, to help us on our way Home.

Not a Single Sparrow Can Fall...

"Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." 

(Matthew 10:29) 

The finches have been building their nest in the eaves of the roof. Today the female flew into the window and Kate found her, still alive. She ran to get a towel and she gently picked up the finch and held it close as a huge amount of heat escaped the tiny creature's body.  It happened the same way when I passed; a great heat went through Kate as I made my transition.  

Heat is energy manifest. The heat is the infinite life force energy that was leaving the bird as it's immortal spirit expanded out into the universe.  I have told you in my book and I will tell you again now: 

Heaven is not somewhere Up In The Clouds high in the sky. Heaven is all around you! The moment that bird took it's last breath, it's spirit left it, in the form of heat, and immediately went out into the Heaven that surrounds all things. This is why I am still here. We are all here, all around you.  
There is no Heaven UP THERE -- HEAVEN IS HERE, ALL AROUND!  

Kate held the bird, cupping her hands around its tiny body, holding it close to be sure that it knew that it was loved as it left. After all, we carry the last moments of life with us into the next one and it's very nice when the transition is made with love. 

Then Kate cried. It was like a Little Journey of Grief for her. She blamed herself because she feeds the birds and if the bird feeder hadn't been there, the finch might not have flown into the window at all. She thought of the nest and she cried as she watched the male finch with red breast flying back and forth at the eave of the roof. She told him what happened as tears rolled down her face. She wondered if there were eggs in the nest and she worried for them too.  She cried slow gentle tears for this tiny bird and it's mate. 

Then she took her little shovel and buried the finch in a soft hole underneath the tree in the side yard. She lined the hole with silken rose petals.  They too were dying and needed to know that they were loved. It's all about the love for every living thing.  

She returned to the scene where a tiny grey feather remained. She picked up the feather and tossed it onto the breeze.  

"Fly free, little girl!" 

The feather wafted and lifted and soon floated out of sight. 

This all happened on the same deck that I used to love. 

Lots of magic and love took place here and it will always hold the energy of these memories. 

I'll be meeting this little bird soon. I will love this bird forever because 
my master loved her and cared for her for just a few moments. We are all connected. I love my master, my master loves me and I will love this bird because she loved this bird.
And just you wait and see; this bird will love me!  

We are Not Gone, Only Gone From Your Sight

When I say we are not gone, only gone from your sight, this is what I am talking about.  

We are like the sun. We are there with you and then we rise up like the sun and even though you cannot see us, we are there. With you. We are always there. We never go away. If it seems we go away for just a little while, we always come back around again.  

Always. Forever. Until we meet again. 

So Do Pets Go To Heaven or Not???

Dear Jack (I can't believe I am writing a letter to a dog):

No animal goes to heaven. St. Thomas stated and the Church approves: "The soul of an animal after death returns to the potency of matter." Anything contrary is simply fiction and nonsense.

Anon E Mouse

Dear Anon, 

Now that I am in Heaven, I join the common mind which knows Everything.  That said, since you are a doubter (much like the St.Thomas who you refer to in your note to me), I will provide a link to a reputable source to reveal the Truth. As an apostle of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas was transformed from doubter to believer. Click here to read more about that.  

I also would like to clarify that we do not "live" at Rainbow Bridge. A lot of people think we do. Rainbow Bridge is just the passageway by which we reach the Other Side. The other side is Heaven.  We cross the Bridge and we wait for you on the other side. When it's your time to cross the bridge into Heaven, we are the first ones waiting at the edge of Rainbow Bridge to greet you. So yes, we live in Heaven.

But 'How do you know that pets go to Heaven?' you ask. 
How do I know? ...

 I know because The Bible tells me so. 

I know because animals have a soul and souls return to Heaven when they are done experiencing life on earth. 

I know... because animals have eyes in which you can see the entire universe. If Eyes Are The Windows Of The Soul, this is further proof that animals have a soul. 

I know this because Pope Francis (like his beloved namesake, St. Francis) tells me so. 

Source: ABC Nightly News and Google Images. 

I KNOW. I mostly know because I know where I am. I am there. I am Here. I am in Heaven. I am in Life Everlasting. I AM Life Everlasting. We all are.

"Life goes on and something is always turning into something else. I now know this for sure: Love is all there is and love never dies. Love is energy and energy does not die; it cannot die. Einstein would tell you that it is a proven scientific fact. If it’s energy, it must live, although sometimes it changes form.

Love does not sleep. I am not dead. I am awake."

("Jack McAfghan: Reflections on Life with my Master" Chapter 66)

Now Kate knows -- without a doubt-- because she wrote my book and she never planned on writing it. She never planned on my reaching out to her to give her a message to give the rest of the grieving doubting world. 

I know because I know.

If Doubting Thomas Can Become a Believer, You Can Too.

One of our readers begs to differ on the subject of animals going to Heaven. He mentions St. Thomas in his argument.  With all due respect to his thoughts and beliefs, I don't particularly appreciate how this contradicts the entire love story of my life and my passing. I wish to clarify our St. Thomas, who was known for being a Doubter, much like my reader.

I also like to clarify that while I am not "religious" (religion does not exist in heaven, only spirit exists fueled by the power of love), we must always take into consideration the great writings and beliefs of the people who are of great faith -- no matter what creed.

"St. Thomas was born a Jew and was called to be one of the twelve Apostles. His birth and death dates are unknown, but his feast day is celebrated July 3. He lived before the formal establishment of the Catholic Church but is recognized as the patron saint of architects.

He was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. When Jesus said He was returning to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus, Thomas immediately exhorted the other Apostles to accompany Him on the trip which involved certain danger and possible death because of the mounting hostility of the authorities.

"At the Last Supper, when Christ told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they also might come because they knew both the place and the way, Thomas pleaded that they did not understand and received the beautiful assurance that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday earned him the title of "doubting Thomas."

Eight days later, on Christ's second apparition, Thomas was gently rebuked for his skepticism and furnished with the evidence he had demanded - seeing in Christ's hands the point of the nails. Thomas even put his fingers in the nail holes and his hand into Christ's side. After verifying the wounds were true, St. Thomas became convinced of the reality of the Resurrection and exclaimed, "My Lord and My God," thus making a public Profession of Faith in the Divinity of Jesus.

The Incredulity of Thomas" by Caravaggio, public domain, Wikipedia

St. Thomas is also mentioned as being present at another Resurrection appearance of Jesus - at Lake Tiberias, when a miraculous catch of fish occurred.

This is all that we know about St. Thomas from the New Testament. Tradition says that at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost this saint was sent to evangelize to the Parthians, Medes, and Persians. He ultimately reached India, carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves 'Christians of St. Thomas.'"

SOURCE: www.Catholic.org