It was dark when he chained me to the wall and walked away. I watched him disappear into the shadows, certain he would come back when morning arrived. I waited through the long night, listening to strange sounds in that abandoned place, trying not to be afraid. When the sun rose and he still wasn’t there, I told myself he must be coming back soon.

I lay on the hard ground and watched the darkness gather around me again, wondering what I had done wrong. I had tried so hard to be a good dog, but he was always angry with me for some reason. I had never wanted anything more than to be loved. Another day passed. My throat was dry, and my stomach twisted with hunger, and my heart hurt most of all. I could not understand why I had been forgotten.

In the morning, I heard voices, so I barked and barked, hoping someone would come. A man looked at me for a long moment, then rushed away. It was probably because I was a bad dog, barking like that. That evening, when I had almost stopped hoping, I heard a gentle voice. A woman knelt beside me and spoke soothing words. She untied the chain from my neck, gave me cool water, and watched as I drank deeply. She fed me, stroked my head, and for the first time in my short life, I felt safe.

She took me to a place surrounded by fields where many other dogs lived. Most were friendly, though sorrow lingered in their eyes. We shared our stories. Most of them were sad, although some dogs remembered a deep love. I ached to know how that felt and would beg them to tell me their stories of love over and over.

The people there were wonderful. They fed us, cared for us, and spoke to us with kindness. Sometimes visitors would arrive and walk among us. We all watched hopefully as they stopped to meet different dogs. Then one lucky dog would leave. I would watch as they climbed into a car and disappeared down the road, their tails wagging, their eyes shining with joy. I was always happy for them, but each goodbye left something hollow inside me.

Days stretched into weeks, and my friends left one by one, but new dogs were always arriving. Every night, before I closed my eyes, I whispered a prayer into the darkness. I prayed to the Great Creator that somewhere, somehow, there was a family meant for me. A family who would love me beyond time. And that maybe they were looking for me too.

As time passed, hope became harder to hold onto. I began to wonder if this would be my home forever. Perhaps I would spend the rest of my life watching other dogs leave while I remained behind.

Then one morning, when I opened my eyes, excitement surged through me so suddenly I could barely contain it. Nothing looked different. The kennels and the fields were the same and the summer sun blazed overhead, making the air heavy and still. Yet something felt different. Something was going to happen today.

I felt them before I saw them. They were coming! I didn’t know how I knew, but every part of me was certain. Love was on its way.

The kind woman who had rescued me walked through the gate, and beside her was a man. My heart nearly exploded, and I ran. I ran faster than I had ever run before. I darted between dogs, weaving through the crowd, my paws barely touching the ground. Hurry, hurry, hurry, my heart cried. Please let me get there first!

When I reached him, I jumped up before I could stop myself. For a second, I expected to be scolded and pushed to the ground. Instead, he laughed and rubbed my head, then behind my ears. In that moment, I knew. He had a gentle heart and soul and would never hurt me.

Then I saw her. Our eyes met, and everything else disappeared. The noise, the heat, the other dogs, the shelter itself. Something inside me recognized her instantly, as though my heart had been searching for hers my entire life. She knelt down, and I covered her face with kisses. My tail wagged so hard it felt as though my whole body might lift off the ground. The man scratched behind my ears while she wrapped her arms around me so tightly I could feel the beating of her heart. She whispered that she had been looking for me too, and my heart nearly burst with happiness.

My family had finally found me.

We went for a walk together with their dog, Anna. She was beautiful, gentle, and wise. There was a softness in her eyes, both of great love and deep loss. As we walked side by side, she told me about her brother, Riley, who had crossed the Rainbow Bridge only a few months before.

I wanted my new family to know they had chosen the right dog. I tried to walk calmly beside them, but joy kept bubbling out of me. Every few steps I found myself jumping, wagging, kissing, and smiling. I simply couldn’t help it!

When we arrived back at the kennels, I felt fear rise up in me. What if they didn’t want me after all? The nice man opened the car door, and before anyone could say a word, I raced past Anna and leaped inside. She jumped in after me, laughing, and assured me that everything was okay, that I was safe, and that I was finally going home.  As we drove away, I pressed my face into the wind rushing through the window and breathed deeply. Freedom smelled wonderful.

When we arrived, I discovered a shady garden filled with beautiful trees, and the grass felt soft beneath my paws. I heard birds and even saw a squirrel. Was I dreaming? Then, my new mom gave me a gift. A little stuffed giraffe with red and yellow spots. Nobody had ever given me a gift before. She hugged me and showed me my new bed. I looked into her eyes and wondered if this much happiness was allowed. What would I do if it were taken away?  

For a while, I still had nightmares. Sometimes I dreamed I was back at the abandoned factory, chained in the darkness, waiting for someone who would never return. Other nights I dreamed I was back at the shelter, watching everyone else leave while I stayed behind. When I cried out in my sleep, mom would pull me close and hold me against her chest until the trembling stopped. Slowly, I learned that morning would come, and they would still be there, that nobody was going to leave me behind again in the dark. Belonging is such a wonderful feeling. I didn’t know a life could change so completely.

On the full moon, only a few weeks after I arrived, I saw Anna under her favorite tree. She said she had been waiting for me to join the family because it was her time to go now, to be with Riley. The Great Creator had called her, and she would leave the next day. Anna knew that her departure would break mom’s heart into a thousand pieces, so I needed to stay with her at all times. Mom had separated herself from the Great Creator long ago and it would be my task to help bring her back to the One who is Love Itself. I never let Anna down.

Eight years have passed since that day love found me. Beautiful years filled with adventures, laughter, long walks by the sea, and more love than I ever believed possible. Every morning when I open my eyes, my heart feels fuller than it did the day before.

They take me everywhere. I am never alone. I love to take rides in the car. It doesn’t matter where we are going as long as I’m with them. Roughhousing with dad is fun, but I’m always gentle with mom and sometimes let her win at tug-of-war. I jump with joy when they are happy, and on other days, I lick mom’s salty tears when they run down her cheeks. They are mine, and I am theirs. Always and forever.

One day, one of us will leave first. The Great Creator is also the Great Completer. There is no greater sorrow than staying behind while another crosses over the bridge into eternity. But there is no greater promise than knowing that love itself can never end. I know that the one who goes ahead will wait for the others in heaven. No matter how long it takes, because real love never disappears. It waits and grows even deeper. We will all know one another again by the love that binds our souls together.

Love,

Sammy