She came to us in April of 2006. After years of saying no to pets, my husband and I finally relented, and Lily Rose, a Shih Tzu, entered our lives. She was a mere eight weeks old and an adorable bundle of fluff. Though she loved all the family members, this dog selected me as her favorite person. Lily followed me all over the house, outdoors, and even wanted to sit by the tub when I took a bath. She was my constant companion for nearly two decades.
I was the center of Lily’s life; my husband, children, and mom were slightly outside the circle. This dog trusted me implicitly and loved me unconditionally. She enjoyed curling up on the sofa next to me, resting at my feet while I worked at my desk, and usually parked herself near my chair at the dining table, hoping for some scraps. This lovebug would often sit at the door or watch out the window, waiting for my return if I were away.
Lily was there with me for all the ups and downs of life and during significant milestones. She offered comfort when my kids left for college, when my husband worked out of town for months, through illness and surgery, family struggles, and my mom’s death. She was thrilled when my older two came home after extended absences due to school or work; when the family was all together for holidays, birthdays, and weddings; and when we bought some property and moved.
Lily said her final farewell as I held her (and sobbed) last Friday, August 11th. She was a part of our family for over 17 years and will live on forever in our hearts. ❤️
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” Mary Shelley
You don’t have to love animals to understand loss. Grief is grief, no matter the cause. You can be sad about the loss of a person, a pet, a job, a dream, or a friendship. Grief leaves that pit in your stomach and makes it hard to breathe. It feels like there is a painful hole in your heart. If you’ve experienced grief, you understand what I’ve described. You know there is no cure for the pain from loss. It is something we have to walk through, not around. As my family adjusts to life without our Lily Rose, we know the sadness will lessen over time but never fully go away. That’s how deep our love for her was.
You are not forgotten, loved one
Nor will you ever be
As long as life and memory last,
We will remember thee.
Author Unknown
With love, Natalie xx
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