The pieces of my heart (on fostering)

Our paths will cross for only a short time,

but while you are in my care I will be devoted to you.

If memories of your former life are painful, I will help erase them.

No longer will you hunger and I will help to heal your wounds.

If your former life was good, I will promise you an even better future.

One day our time together will come to an end

and you will go off to your new home, healthy, happy and healed.

As a parting gift, I will give you a piece of my heart to remember me by.

I may shed a tear ... not for my loss, but for your gain.

Perhaps our paths may cross again for a fleeting instant

and I will be comforted by the aura of love that surrounds you.

There will always be a bond between us,

though we walk separate paths through this life.

After we reach our heavenly reward our paths may cross again.

You may try to return the piece of my heart

with thanks for all that I did for you.

I will tell you to keep it and thank you

for showing me that I could be better

than I thought I could be,

and that I learned in giving came the greatest gifts.

The pieces of our hearts are like grains of sand.

They are pulled along a current beyond our control

until they come together and form a safe haven.

I, like you, came to understand what it meant to be saved. 

(Jim Willis, 2001) 

*****

 

I would like to thank Jim Willis for his kind permission to publish his writings (taken from his book “Pieces of My Heart - Writings Inspired By Animals and Nature” (http://www.crean.com/jimwillis/) on my blog. It’s possible to order the book here.