A Tough Day

Emery and I both could tell that Freckles had something wrong with her and today it was confirmed by the vet, she had Distemper. There was the shaking, and the conjunctivitis and more. We took the advice of many and had her put down so she wouldn't suffer with the seizures and the horror of the virus taking over her body. I sickness like that can happen when you adopt from an animal shelter. It wasn't the shelters fault and they have been wonderfully kind to me and I can go back and get another puppy when I want. I need some time, so not just yet. There are a few more tears to be shed for this sweet puppy. It was such a hard thing to do today.
Yeah, I know all about wise words and teachings about non attachment, not being attached to the things in our lives and how all life is temporary etc, but that sort of wisdom just feels like words right now. Yes, I have tried to live some aspects of my life with this sort of teaching but when it comes to family and to my pets, it just doesn't seem to work. On so many levels this philosophy works great and I appreciate the wisdom of it but not today, for this experience. But then non attachment is not about not loving something, its more about not having expectations attached to it. There is the hard part. I expected Puppy to be a big part of my life for a long time.
Here is a little definition of Non Attachment "Non-attachment is a Buddhist philosophy that everything is impermanent, therefore we shouldn't try to form bonds with something and desire or crave it because, in reality, it won't be around forever and this desire blocks our way to enlightenment. Buddhists believe that desire causes suffering. Desire unfulfilled causes suffering, obviously, but even when we get what we want we're somehow left feeling unfulfilled and we want more. " ~Liz Copeland~
This puppy entered into my life for a short time, gave me great joy and that was the gift.

Just a bit of a P.S. here so I don't get into trouble... Just because I use a Buddhist explanation doesn't mean anything more than it is a way to explain the very difficult concept of accepting things.
Christ taught a powerful lesson on non-attachment in Matthew 8:21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Not sure I could do that. I have seen so many Amish and Conservative Mennonite's accept death with such peace of heart, accepting that all things are gifts for as long as they are with us and then in memory.