Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets

by Cotner, June

• ISBN13: 9780062516459
• ISBN10: 0062516450
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-07-02
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

Our pets. They are our loyal companions and our faithful friends, a constant source of joy and inspiration. In this endearing anthology of prayers and poems, June Cotner has handpicked choice writings by some of the world's most notable animal lovers to celebrate the playful, the poignant, and the profound ways these wonderful creatures touch our daily lives.Selections include Emily Dickinson's astute observations of her cat, Roger Caras' thoughts about the love a dog brings to a home, and a cat's rules for running a house. Readers will be delighted by Anne Porter's poem exalting a spring symphony of peepers and Rumi in praise of birds in flight. The section "Partings" includes Annie Dougherty's lovely poem "Time to Say Good-bye" and Lord Byron's epitaph to his dog. "Reflections" includes the words of St. Francis, Jane Goodall, and Chief Seattle, reminding us that we are all interconnected beings, and James Herriot and Walt Whitman honoring the humble dignity of all creatures.Animal Blessings makes a wonderful gift for all animal lovers. This delightful volume is a charming companion that reminds us to be grateful for everything our pets and all the other animals of the world bring to our lives.

Author Biography

June Cotner is the bestselling author of Graces, Bedside Prayers, and Get Well Wishes. She lives with her husband, two wayward dogs, and two stray cats in Poulsbo, Washington

Table of Contents

A Letter to Readers	xv
Thanks	xix
ONE Dogs	1	(26)
What I Learned from My Dog	3	(2)
I Would Be	5	(1)
Welcome Home, New Puppy	6	(1)
Making a House a Home	7	(1)
Faithful Companion	8	(2)
Just My Dog	10	(2)
We Really Never Own a Dog	12	(1)
Loyal Friend	13	(1)
A Perfect Gentleman	14	(1)
Old Friends	15	(1)
Old Black Lab in the First Snow	16	(1)
Scratch a Dog	17	(1)
Devotion	18	(1)
Comfort	19	(1)
A Dog's Prayer	20	(2)
Folks Will Know	22	(1)
A Dog's Acceptance	23	(1)
If You Can	24	(3)
TWO Cats	27	(24)
Cats Make Us Feel Good	29	(1)
Magician	30	(1)
Peace Keeper	31	(1)
Time Spent Watching a Cat	32	(1)
The Difference Between Dogs and Cats	33	(1)
Basic Rules for Cats Who Have a House to Run	34	(3)
The Cat	37	(1)
Psalm for a Cat Owner	38	(1)
Companion	39	(1)
The King of Cats Sends a Postcard to His Wife	40	(1)
On a Cat, Aging	41	(1)
Room for One More	42	(1)
Cat from the Animal Shelter	43	(1)
Cat-Haiku-Esque-Poem	44	(1)
I Will Always Remember	45	(1)
Passerby	46	(2)
A Question	48	(1)
Stray Cat	49	(1)
Cats as Teachers	50	(1)
THREE Other Animals	51	(34)
A Fieldmouse's Prayer	53	(2)
All God's Creatures	55	(2)
Three Little Fish	57	(1)
Grace	58	(2)
A Pony's Prayer	60	(1)
Last Chance	61	(5)
The First of May	66	(1)
Midwife to Miracles	67	(1)
On Guardian Angels	68	(1)
In the Presence of Angels	69	(1)
Home Delivery	70	(1)
Bird Mother	71	(1)
Birds Make Great Sky-Circles	72	(1)
The Communion of Saints	73	(1)
Deer Domain	74	(2)
In Deer Country	76	(1)
The Grasshopper and the Cricket	77	(1)
Atlantic Dolphins	78	(2)
In a Moonlit Night	80	(1)
Again, Frogs	81	(1)
Bee! I'm Expecting You!	82	(1)
The Good Life	83	(2)
FOUR Partings	85	(22)
Time to Say Good-bye	87	(1)
Mourning the Death of a Pet	88	(1)
Long Lost...Long Remembered	89	(1)
Prayer for a Pet's Memorial Service	90	(1)
Prayer for the Burial of a Bird	91	(1)
Funeral Prayer	92	(2)
Farewell, Old Friend	94	(1)
An Epitaph	95	(1)
Passing On	96	(1)
At the Grave of a Fine Cat	97	(1)
A Memorial for a Pet	98	(1)
In the Loss of Your Pet	99	(1)
A Dog Lover's Prayer	100	(2)
Dogs in Heaven?	102	(1)
Friends in the Great Beyond	103	(1)
The Love They Give Us	104	(1)
Northwest Indian Memorial on Death	105	(2)
FIVE Reflections	107	(38)
If Having a Soul	109	(1)
Do Animals Have Souls?	110	(2)
They Shall Teach Thee	112	(1)
Ethical Conduct	113	(1)
Love Animals	114	(1)
Hurt No Living Thing	115	(1)
Moral Progress	116	(1)
Living Holy	117	(1)
A True Perspective	118	(1)
Animals Are Such Agreeable Friends	119	(1)
I Think I Could Turn and Live with the Animals	120	(1)
To Portland Cement from Robert Frost	121	(1)
Contemplation	122	(1)
Child's Lesson	123	(1)
Dream Time	124	(2)
All Things Are Connected	126	(1)
The Animals Never Yell at Me	127	(1)
An Animal's Eyes	128	(1)
The Peace of wild Things	129	(1)
If I Knew the Ways of Animals	130	(2)
God's Special Providence	132	(1)
God in All Things	133	(1)
Talk to the Animals	134	(1)
In Their Innocence and Wisdom	135	(1)
Prayer for an Ill Pet	136	(1)
To Be of Service	137	(1)
Why Do I Care So Much?	138	(2)
Compassion	140	(1)
Until One Has Loved an Animal	141	(1)
We All Belong to the Same Family	142	(1)
Respect for Life	143	(1)
All Things Bright and Beautiful	144	(1)
SIX Inspiration	145	(18)
A Prayer for the Feast of St. Francis	147	(1)
Animal Blessing for the Feast, of St. Francis of Assisi	148	(2)
A Prayer for a Pet Blessing	150	(1)
A Prayer for Animals	151	(1)
I Sing for the Animals	152	(1)
A Prayer for Protecting Animals	153	(1)
Blessings	154	(1)
Buddhist Prayer	155	(1)
A Blessing for a Child's New Pet	156	(1)
In Appreciation of the Family Pet	157	(1)
Rainforest Life	158	(1)
Blessings in All Directions	159	(2)
Hear Our Humble Prayer	161	(2)
Author Index	163	(2)
Permissions and Acknowledgments	165	(3)
Photo Credits	168