Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Read Free

received reflected the positive influence pets have on their owners. Pets draw us out of ourselves and bring out the kindest impulses of humanity. They connect us to nature and the rest of the animal kingdom, making us more conscious of the mysteries of God inherent in all things. Because of our pets, a deeper part of ourselves is unlocked—a part more compassionate, less arrogant, not as hurried; a part of us that is more willing to share our lives fully with other beings. When that happens, we know a truer, fuller, simpler meaning of happiness.
    There were also many stories about a pet’s power to comfort and even heal. Our pets keep us from getting sick as often, and if we do become sick, we recover faster.
    Taken together, the evidence is overwhelming: pets are good for our hearts, bodies and souls.
    After reading these stories, you may find yourself basking in the warm memories of a beloved pet. We also hope to give you a new perspective on animal companions that you will put into action—loving them unconditionally and valuing the simple gifts they bring to your life. If you don’t have a pet, perhaps these stories will inspire you to enrich your life by going to your local animal shelter and adopting an animal who needs your love and will return it a thousandfold. Or, if you aren’t in a position to adopt an animal, you can make life a little brighter for your fellow creatures by volunteering your time—even as little as an hour a week—to walk, feed, groom or just love the homeless animals at your local shelter.
    Ultimately, it is our deepest prayer that this book will positively impact the lives of millions of pets and people around the world.

Share with Us
    We would love to hear your reactions to the stories in this book. Please let us know what your favorite stories were and how they affected you.
    We also invite you to send us stories you would like to see published in future volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul . You can send us stories you have written or ones you have read and liked.
    Send your submissions to:
    Chicken Soup for the Soul
P.O. Box 30880
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
To e-mail or visit our Web sites:
www.chickensoup.com
www.clubchickensoup.com
    We hope you enjoy reading this book as much as we enjoyed compiling, editing and writing it.

1
ON LOVE
    L ove is God’s creation, the whole
and every grain of sand in it.
Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light.
Love the animals, love the plants,
love everything. If you love everything,
you will perceive the divine mystery in things.
Once you perceive it, you will begin to
comprehend it better every day. And you
will come at last to love the whole world
with an all-embracing love.
    Fyodor Dostoyevsky

©Lynn Johnston Productions Inc./Dist. by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

Delayed Delivery
    Stella had been prepared for her husband’s death. Since the doctor’s pronouncement of terminal cancer, they had both faced the inevitable, striving to make the most of their remaining time together. Dave’s financial affairs had always been in order. There were no new burdens in her widowed state. It was just the awful aloneness . . . the lack of purpose to her days.
    They had been a childless couple by choice. Their lives had been so full and rich. They had been content with busy careers and with each other. They had many friends. Had. That was the operative word these days. It was bad enough losing the one person you loved with all your heart. But over the past few years, she and Dave repeatedly coped with the deaths of their friends and relations. They were all of an age—an age when human bodies began giving up. Dying. Face it—they were old!
    And now, approaching the first Christmas without Dave, Stella was all too aware she was on her own.
    With shaky fingers, she lowered the volume of her radio so that the Christmas music faded to a muted background. To her surprise, she saw that the mail had arrived. With the inevitable wince of pain