Today My Best Buddy Passed Away

Today my buddy passed away.

We met 18 years ago when he hid aside my car that morning. His name was Tom. At least that is what I started calling him as he was unable to speak for himself and I didn’t want to call him hey you.

Tom was in a very bad way and was leery of me and anyone. I noticed that Tom had been in a terrible fight and blood was dried on his face. He looked like he had not seen a meal in a long time as well.

Both my wife Lynda and I went and prepared him a meal which he consumed straight away. We tried to clean his wounds but he wanted no part of that so we just let him rest for awhile.

Later I saw Lynda talking to Tom and he was letting her clean his wounds. I told Lynda to be careful of this guy as we knew little of him. Lynda was taken with Tom and she asked if he would hang around for a few days as she turned to look at me for assurance. I nodded and we went back into the house.

The next morning Tom was still by my car so I told him to come up on the porch and sit there with me. I don’t know what was with him but he didn’t want anything to do with me that day. I asked Lynda to prepare him another meal as I was getting ready to go to work for the day. I assume that she did.

In the evening of that day as I drove into the driveway of my home there was Tom sitting on the stoop of the front porch. My guess was that he decided to stay and I sat next to him.

The only thing I was able to get out of Tom was that he had been on the street for a long time and he was neglected and hurt. We somehow bonded that night and Tom never left our home till this very day, the day I am writing this post.

Eighteen years is a long time and a lot of memories. Tom eats with us everyday. He contributed everything he could to us and we just fell in love with him. He watched the house for us when we were away and always kept things in proper order.

In the night when I would go out into the yard Tom was always there with me. It appeared to me that he was protecting me from who knows what. I just smiled at him and told him that I appreciated his efforts.

I lost a good friend today and he will be sorely missed. Tom never asked for anything special the whole time we were together. Food and water and health care is all we gave him. There was never a bad day it seemed for Tom. Always happy and willing to help out where he could.

Yesterday Tom spent the entire day sleeping. He did not want anything to eat. He wanted to be by himself and I guess contemplate his life.

This morning Tom and I went out into the front yard and greeted the morning. We as usual gave thanks to God in Jesus Christ name for allowing us to share it with Him. Tom was confused and began to stumble so the both of us went back inside. Tom collapsed just inside the front door. I held him and told him that I loved him as he drew his last breath. I was well you can imagine.

It was very difficult for me and Lynda to accept what just occurred. We gave thanks to God for all the years of love and companionship Tom had given us.

Lynda and I are going to miss Tom. God tells us in His Word that being absents from the body is being present with the Lord. I take this to be true.

My best buddy passed away today. His name was Tom. He was my friend. I loved him very much and I know that I will see him again in Heaven some day.

Tom was my cat.

Chuck Madere