A few years ago, my son's dog, Bernie, died of an aggressive cancer. He was only three years old. I took his death especially hard because I watched him daily during his first year while my son went to work.
Bernie was a clown, and I just loved him. I never walked him; he walked me. We walked at his pace, which was always fast, if not running. There was no holding him back. He filled me with joy!
I looked into his deep brown eyes and told him what a good boy he was. I knew he understood and loved me back. I was very firm with him that he couldn't stand up on the countertop in the kitchen and grab things to eat, like a pack of crackers or thawing ground beef. But that was the extent of my training. He was a perfect dog.
Bernie ran to the front door whenever the doorbell rang and practically dove through the outer screen to greet delivery men and women. Some laughed in surprise, and others ran for their lives.
My son collected him at the end of each day, and he sat up straight in the truck next to his boy. They were the perfect pair. I know Bernie's death was devastating for him. The cancer diagnosis came as a shock. My son was brokenhearted, as he told me. Over the next month, we realized that our friend would not make it.
I went over to my son's place many days to pray for Bernie and my son and to give my son breaks so that he could go to the office. He had the brunt of the care of Bernie day and night. It was an awful time. At last, my son had to make the painful decision to release Bernie from his pain and put him down.
I went to say goodbye to him before they left, and then my precious Bernie watched me walk away as I left. He must have known. Dogs are so intelligent. It's two years later, and I still miss our boy and silently cry when I am alone.
I had four dreams about Bernie and heaven in that first year. I dream about heaven and my loved ones regularly soon after they die. I have conversations with them, and they help me to feel at peace. These are lucid dreams in which I also regularly visit my dogs, now a pack.
In my first dream about Bernie, he stood in a line of angels next to Jesus. Across from them were many dark entities, which they seemed to be holding back.
"Bernie," I called.
He came running to me. I got down on one knee and hugged him.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
Animals and people talk telepathically in heaven.
"I'm with Jesus now."
I looked at Jesus, and he smiled.
"Thank you," I said to him.
I hugged Bernie again. I had a few more dreams like this: I would visit my pack of dogs now in heaven: Charlie, Mocha, and Buffy.
One time, after Buffy died, I went to see them. I was hugging all of my dogs, including Bernie, who joined us, and then Buffy came running up and jumped all over Bernie, licking his face.
I was shocked because Buffy did not like Bernie and was not friendly to him. She went out of her way to snub him.
"Buffy, what's this?" I said, laughing.
I turned to Bernie and said, "She's never nice to you."
"Oh, that was her earth personality," he explained. "She's really nice now. She likes me."
I ruffled the hair on Buffy's head. Our old Bijon Shitzu was a young pup again. She jumped on my lap and started licking my face.
"Oh, Buffy, you're so happy!" I exclaimed.
Charlie, our dear husky, yellow lab mix, came over and nuzzled his head into my neck as I gave him a great hug, and then my dear puggle, Mocha, squeezed between everyone and knocked me over and licked my face.
I was laughing and literally in heaven with all of my furry friends.
What an incredible gift to have this dream with my animal family! But the most exciting part was that I learned we have earth and heavenly personalities, which was unexpected. It must be that all of the problems that affect our personalities are gone in heaven. That's why when I visit, everyone is so happy!
As an end note, traveling to heaven in my dreams to see my animals has been a great gift. I'm grateful and treasure this gift.
When I refer to our Earth personalities, you'll understand that this world's cares burden us, but our heavenly personalities are not burdened at all. In heaven, we're filled with freedom and joy.
Thanks for reading!
Denise
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