OT-Because of Love...Beautiful story. - Page 1

I receieved this by email a couple of days ago, and when I read it, it made me cry.  It is stunningly beautiful, and I thought that those here who have not seen it, might enjoy it.  it is not dog related, and so is an off topic thread, but it is too beautiful not to post.

Crys


Because of Love (Please read all the way to the end)


A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-
Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly
parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they
had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge
pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the
tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a
landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories
of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more
excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had
taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty
mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in
the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each
year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and
contentment at day's end.
Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the
old folks "Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One." She
is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals
from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for
yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but
expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"
The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes,
scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes, I could use a pair of
new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he
drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her
ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing
else, just love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his
wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness
stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in
sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their
cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the
peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed
the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn.
None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry
flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror
and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he
raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were
roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing
to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from
calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other,
they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing
ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their
grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as
they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to
the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man
turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as
his shaking old hands clumsi

his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red
bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has
spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength
and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in
times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks
to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most
precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy
hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and
withered hand.

The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep
snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the
hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the
old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the
incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught
up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine,
and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most
bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had
a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were
breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy.
Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her
forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist
hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas
gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.

Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was
the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her
muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great
dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping
cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed
about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry
flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips
and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new
years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she
moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now,
she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his
wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was
brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were
filled with devotion as she offered her gift---

Because of love. Only Because of love.
Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... And
again the peace of love filled their hearts.

This is a true story.

Willy Eagle
This is an Inspirational message sent to a small group of people.
My hope is that it will make your day just a little bit better.

Beautiful story.  I was just looking at pictures of our old boy who passed away a year ago, so this really hit a nerve.

Opal

Thanks  Crys   that was certainly   FULL OF LOVE...

Animals always show us their true grit just when we fall on our knees and think the worst...We always find out,, they are Gods gift to us to keep it all together..

A Purpose from ABOVE>

YR

Thanks Crys -- That's a beautiful story -- it made me cry also.  

Yes, Crys, as I tried to get that across on another thread tonight  and ran interference before the negativity started that I have watched on here for the last two months...but of course, it is gonna be taken wrong and gonna  start a  Volcano...

No matter what you say, someone shoots the messenger with hints of rebuff...that is ok .  I am like the OLD ONE in the story..I do my thing you do yours. I like to see people smile instead of frown..

You brought a tear but inside that tear comes a smile of the happy ending...the   OLD ONE came thru...

YR

A great Story with a good ending, and possibly it is fact that todays youngsters and generation do not have the compassion that us Older Folk have, Times change and sadly not always for the best,
Animals teach us so much they Give a lot but ask for so little back, not so the human race of today
Steve1

Steve ...You hit the nail on the head.  Today's generation does not have the compassion that the older generation did.

We champion "causes" but even though there are tears shed and  a lot of negativiity, there is no real compassion there.  I'm not saying that none of us have compassion, but one only has to look at attitudes displayed even right here on this board by a number of our members, and you can see the lack of true compassion.  I could go into detail regarding what I mean, but that would spur yet more of the nastiness, and I have no intention of hijacking my own thread.

Suffice to it say, that we need to treasure our older generation, and our younger one, for the elders are the history, are the foundation, of our civilization (regardless of country).  Our younger generation is the future, and it is our job, as the middle generation, to be sure that our children are raised using the priniciples that our parents learned over a lifetime, so that they may show the same compassion and love for each other.

Just my opinion, but I believe that our elders are a national treasure...An International treasure...That must be safeguarded and learned from.

Crys

This story makes me think of a situation that is unfolding before my own eyes and I'm very lucky to get to witness it.

3 years ago my father fell in love with a retired labrador brood bitch who was up for adoption since her breeding days were behind her.  She was 7 at the time, small, yellow old English style lab who had only had on litter of puppies since being imported from England.

She was a kennel dog all her life, jumps fences and isn't much for playing with other dogs but she does love her people.   Just before my mother died last year, my father rescued a younger black lab bitch who was extremely aggressive and resource defensive.  When we were all together down at the beach I noticed that the yellow lab (now 10) was getting the brunt of the younger lab's aggression to the point that the older girl retreated to the safety of my GSD bitch.

I told my father I was going to take her so he would only have two dogs to contend with and that it wasn't fair to the 'senior' citizen to keep getting jumped.

So that bit of background out of the way.

When I was down on the beach, I would throw a tennis ball for my GSD, a 2 year old lab bitch and the older girl I'd just 'adopted'.  Of course, the two younger dogs (My GSD and the younger lab) could easily out run the older bitch, who has arthritis in her shoulders but who will run after a tennis ball till she drops if you let her. 

I threw and threw but the younger dogs always outran her and I noticed it depressed her so one time I caught her collar to hold her back for a rest.  Well with my hand caught in "M"'s collar my throw went wild and the ball landed in the surf, caught by the tide.  The two younger bitches raced out but couldn't find it even though they were right on top of the ball.  "M" shifted and whined and on a whim, I let her go.

She dove into the water and unerringly came up with the ball.

Grinning, I got the ball back and again I threw it into the surf.  Again the younger dogs got there first but couldn't find it while the wiley older bitch went right for it.

Experience over youth!