Healing Hands

by....Cyndee Walklet, March 2000

Healing hands are what we bring
To this passion of our hearts
Taking broken souls and frames
We try to heal their parts.

We take unwanted from their homes
Take the sad ones from the pounds.
We lift alone ones off the streets
And turn lost ones into "founds."

With gentle care and food and love
These wee ones learn that life
Has much, much more to give to them
Than harsh words, hurt and strife.

They learn that hands can bring good things
Besides hard slaps and fear
That sweet caresses, cookies, hugs
Come to them when they draw near.

They learn that voices can be soft
And not hurt their tender ears
The angry sounds that cut like knives
Are now gone - washed 'way like tears.

Sometimes it's hard for us to bear
And continue on our way
Frustrated there are no foster homes
For the dog who came today.

We try and make room for one more
Within our own cramped space
Our own dogs sharing Mom or Dad
With yet another sad, small face.

How can we cope from day to day
With sad stories, extra fuss?
We, who have the healing hands
Who is it that heals us?

Surprisingly, our healing comes
From those we choose to heal
The love that's given back to us
When our hearts these wee ones steal.

Watching trust appear in eyes
Once so closed and shuttered in.
Watching flesh appear on ribs
On dogs who were so thin.

Dogs who came, afraid to move
For fear they might be kicked
Meet prospective parents at the door
Demanding THEY be picked

When the time has come to let them go
Off to forever homes
We remember that between new lives and past
We are their stepping stones.


The ones who come and can't be healed
Their small souls can't find peace
Or broken bodies too far gone
Are to the Bridge released.


This final gift that we can give
Is one given through our tears.
Release is given wrapped in our arms
Our love whispered in their ears.

The day we cross the Bridge ourselves
I know that we will meet
Rescued angels who've gone on ahead
They'll be clustered round our feet.

Smiling faces shining up
Bright eyes filled with love
We'll know that they've been watching us
From their soft cloud beds above.


As we helped them in their lives below
And taught them love and trust
They are now OUR stepping stones - They've now rescued us.

..........Cyndee Walklet, March 2000

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