How Much I Love My Sweet Elsimae

We have been blessed in a very special way,
To be loved and to love our very sweet Elsimae.
You stole our hearts from the very first day,
We knew from that moment you were coming home with us to stay.

We watched you grow into a beautiful fluff ball,
It's hard to believe that you were so small.
How we loved to watch you give your all,
So you could chase and play with your favorite yellow ball.

It gave me such joy to watch you and your Mommy train,
Even though sometimes it would drive us insane.
The only time that you would ever complain
Was when your Mommy and Megan would train.

You were always ready to give us your loving kiss,
That is one of the joys you brought me that I will surely miss.
You were always a kind and loving "Aunt" and "Sis"
I am sure that that is what they all will miss.

Now that you are gone to be with God in the big blue sky
It is hard for me to understand why
Now I am very sad and can't help that all I can do is cry
I look forward to the day when we are together again in the big blue sky.

I love you so much,
Daddy

written by Martin Sparks
May 8, 1999

A Parting Prayer

Dear Lord, please open your gates
and call St. Francis
to come escort this beloved companion
across the Rainbow Bridge.

Assign her to a place of honor,
for she has been a faithful servant
and has always done her best to please me.

Bless the hands that send her to you,
for they are doing so in love and compassion,
freeing her from pain and suffering.

Grant me the strength not to dwell on my loss.
Help me remember the details of her life
with the love she has shown me.
And grant me the courage to honor her
by sharing those memories with others.

Let her remember me as well
and let her know that I will always love her.
And when it's my time to pass over into your paradise,
please allow her to accompany those
who will bring me home.

Thank you, Lord,
for the gift of her companionship
and for the time we've had together.

And thank you, Lord,
for granting me the strength
to give her to you now.

Amen.

©Brandy Duckworth, 1998
c/o Kim Crenshaw Duckworth, March 1998