Where is Raisin Now

#1 · October 30, 2003, 7:33 am

Quote from Forum Archives on October 30, 2003, 7:33 am
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

<>< Where is Raisin Now ><>

A mother was trying to explain to her young son Ben what had happened to his beloved dog Raisin after she died. As he was getting ready for bed one night, the boy asked his mother, "Where is Raisin now?"

When she explained to him that his dog had died, the boy asked again, "But where is Raisin now?"

Suddenly aware of how helpless she felt to explain, the mother answered, "Raisin is in Heaven."

With this little Ben seemed satisfied, and he quietly went to bed. Next day, when Ben went out in the backyard to visit Raisin's grave, he saw the grave site covered with flowers. He looked up at his mother and asked, "Is this Heaven?"

Again Ben's mother was at a loss to explain the difference between Raisin's being in Heaven and visiting Raisin's grave. That night, as she tucked her son in bed, she took a chocolate candy bar from her pocket, carefully removed the wrapper, broke off a chunk and handed it to her son. "Let's talk about Raisin," she said. "Tell me what good memories you have of Raisin."

The boy's eyes brightened as he told how he'd gone exploring by the river with Raisin, took her to bed with him every night, and played fetch and chase games with her in the backyard. As he shared each happy memory, he munched contentedly on the rest of the candy bar.

When he'd finished with the good memories of Raisin and the candy bar, his mother pulled him close and hugged him. "Honey," she said, "your dog Raisin is a lot like this candy bar. You know the good, delicious, wonderful and enjoyable part of Raisin that you remember? That's the part of Raisin that's in Heaven."

Then she held up the empty candy bar wrapper. "This is the part of Raisin that's buried in the ground - just Raisin's wrapper." A beautiful, peaceful look came over the little boy's face as he realized what his mother was saying.

This simple story teaches us that the enjoyable part of those we love is never forgotten. We lose only the physical part of the relationship, not the emotional and spiritual parts. What seemed like a puzzle for a boy and his mother just hours before had become a clear picture of the new relationship that's possible when someone we love has died.

<>< Branson Thoughts ><>

“Someday I hope to be as good a person as Branson thinks I am.”
I looked down at Branson sleeping peacefully and content
curled up at my feet and see the love in her eyes when she
looks up at me. I know that I want to be the loving, kind, and joyous
person that she sees.

Branson always seems to bring out the best in me.  Branson's unconditional
love always warms my heart and brings the goodness out of my soul.
Branson never seems to mind when I am walking her if I stop to watch the

boats on the river, the sunset or gaze at the evening stars, or talk to a friend.

Branson is always eager to play with me, jump around and run with me.
Branson is always there to lick my hand and put her head on my knee

or climb in my chair beside me. When I am feeling down she is always there to
jump on my lap and lick my face.

Branson is always there to greet me in joy and love every time I come home

and will forgive me any wrong for a pat on the head and a gentle tone of voice.

Branson listens to me, loves me, and she thinks I am the person I strive to be.

I think there is a reason the word “dog” is God spelled backwards.
God loves us unconditionally just as our dogs do.
God offers us His love freely just like our furry angels do.
God sees the best in us just as our puppies do.

Maybe God created dogs so that we could see through their eyes the
person we were meant to be. All I know is that I may never be as
loving, giving, joyous, kind, and good as Branson thinks I am, but I
will always try moment by moment to live up to her vision of me.

May we all one day be as good as our dogs think we are.

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

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Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

<>< Where is Raisin Now ><>

A mother was trying to explain to her young son Ben what had happened to his beloved dog Raisin after she died. As he was getting ready for bed one night, the boy asked his mother, "Where is Raisin now?"

When she explained to him that his dog had died, the boy asked again, "But where is Raisin now?"

Suddenly aware of how helpless she felt to explain, the mother answered, "Raisin is in Heaven."

With this little Ben seemed satisfied, and he quietly went to bed. Next day, when Ben went out in the backyard to visit Raisin's grave, he saw the grave site covered with flowers. He looked up at his mother and asked, "Is this Heaven?"

Again Ben's mother was at a loss to explain the difference between Raisin's being in Heaven and visiting Raisin's grave. That night, as she tucked her son in bed, she took a chocolate candy bar from her pocket, carefully removed the wrapper, broke off a chunk and handed it to her son. "Let's talk about Raisin," she said. "Tell me what good memories you have of Raisin."

The boy's eyes brightened as he told how he'd gone exploring by the river with Raisin, took her to bed with him every night, and played fetch and chase games with her in the backyard. As he shared each happy memory, he munched contentedly on the rest of the candy bar.

When he'd finished with the good memories of Raisin and the candy bar, his mother pulled him close and hugged him. "Honey," she said, "your dog Raisin is a lot like this candy bar. You know the good, delicious, wonderful and enjoyable part of Raisin that you remember? That's the part of Raisin that's in Heaven."

Then she held up the empty candy bar wrapper. "This is the part of Raisin that's buried in the ground - just Raisin's wrapper." A beautiful, peaceful look came over the little boy's face as he realized what his mother was saying.

This simple story teaches us that the enjoyable part of those we love is never forgotten. We lose only the physical part of the relationship, not the emotional and spiritual parts. What seemed like a puzzle for a boy and his mother just hours before had become a clear picture of the new relationship that's possible when someone we love has died.

<>< Branson Thoughts ><>

“Someday I hope to be as good a person as Branson thinks I am.”
I looked down at Branson sleeping peacefully and content
curled up at my feet and see the love in her eyes when she
looks up at me. I know that I want to be the loving, kind, and joyous
person that she sees.

Branson always seems to bring out the best in me. Branson's unconditional
love always warms my heart and brings the goodness out of my soul.
Branson never seems to mind when I am walking her if I stop to watch the

boats on the river, the sunset or gaze at the evening stars, or talk to a friend.

Branson is always eager to play with me, jump around and run with me.
Branson is always there to lick my hand and put her head on my knee

or climb in my chair beside me. When I am feeling down she is always there to
jump on my lap and lick my face.

Branson is always there to greet me in joy and love every time I come home

and will forgive me any wrong for a pat on the head and a gentle tone of voice.

Branson listens to me, loves me, and she thinks I am the person I strive to be.

I think there is a reason the word “dog” is God spelled backwards.
God loves us unconditionally just as our dogs do.
God offers us His love freely just like our furry angels do.
God sees the best in us just as our puppies do.

Maybe God created dogs so that we could see through their eyes the
person we were meant to be. All I know is that I may never be as
loving, giving, joyous, kind, and good as Branson thinks I am, but I
will always try moment by moment to live up to her vision of me.

May we all one day be as good as our dogs think we are.

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

Necessary Legal Information

I do not mail idea-central unsolicited. If you are receiving this newsletter from me it's because you have subscribed to this mailing list. If you receive this newsletter and are not a subscriber then someone, other than me, has forwarded it to you.

Normal Subscribe:	idea-central-subscribe@welovegod.org
Normal Unsubscribe:	idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

Web Subscribe:	idea-central-allow-subscribe@welovegod.org
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