One month ago today, Adrienne’s beloved black lab, Jake, left this sweet world. Maintenance workers at the Coop where Adrienne and I live called him, “Saint Jake” — adopting that moniker after encountering him only one or two times.
In November, a veterinarian, after experiencing Jake’s chill, sweet and gentle demeanor said, “This is the black lab every owner wants.”
Jake was found abandoned in a fenced and gated ball field in late summer 2019. He was about four-and-a-half years old and had been mistreated by his previous owner. When I saw him in the passenger seat of the Greenbelt Animal Control van during the 2019 Labor Day parade, I immediately told Adrienne to run over and meet him. Their first connection was through a van passenger window.
Adrienne has always been a dog whisperer with an uncanny and patient gift of encouraging dogs to be who they are. Initially sad and tentative, Jake transformed into the dog he was always meant to be. The prayer at the end of this post written by my beloved pastor friend Carol following Jake’s death, beautifully captures who Jake was to all.
Before she died, my beloved friend, Gwendolyn told me that her horse, King, would be the first to greet her in the afterlife. Adrienne and I cling to Gwendolyn’s words now that Jake is no longer with us. It was profoundly heartbreaking to watch Jake’s sweet and gentle body sink to its last sleep. But the soul of him, the generous and grateful soul of him, surely is rising in eager joy to greet us upon some other dawn.
Carol’s prayer:
Into the world there came a soul called Jake
Saint Jake, as you have sometimes been called,
you are with us no longer in your shining dark fur,
but your light and loving presence will always shine
in our hearts.
We give thanks for the light you daily shined in our lives,
and we pray that you may now dwell in the light of
eternity’s shining.
We give thanks for the peace you breathed into our days
and nights, and we pray that you are knowing now a deep
peace in the quiet presence of the stars.
We are deeply saddened for the pain of your last days,
a pain which you bore so nobly, and we prayerfully give
thanks that you are now freed from all suffering.
We give thanks for Adrienne’s attentive love, affection,
and all the tummy rubs that gladdened your earlier days
and softened the final days of pain, and we pray for the
consolation of your loving eyes to be with her and with
all who cared for you throughout your too-brief life with us.
Jake, your life was a life that made those who knew you
want to know and share the deep peace that you embodied,
and to share, as well, your profound attunement to the needs
of others.
Rest now in peace, Saint Jake, rest in love eternal,
rest in endless light.
I still cannot read Carol’s prayer without tearing up. That was Jake. We miss him so very much.
Beautiful. Heartbreaking.
Thank you, dear Neola. I know you have a big heart for dogs. Jake would have loved you and would have been content to sit by your side. Seriously. He would have been right there, his way of telling you that his world was better with you in it.❤️
Tears for you both on this gentle morning. Thank you for sharing Saint Jake with us. Jake is Ava’s cat’s name. Kind creatures who save us. I can’t wait to get a pet again someday. The unconditional love feels necessary. XO
Thank you for sharing and participating in our grief, Kelly. I had no idea that Ava had a cat named Jake.
Yes, kind creatures save us. So do kind friends. xoxo
A beautiful tribute. Jake is indeed a Saint, a noble soul and we were all blessed to know him and be with him. Of course both you and Adrienne mourn his passing. How could you not?? What a sweet presence he brought to your lives especially and to all of us. Yes of course he will be at heaven’s gate to greet you.
Thank you, dear, dear Charlotte.
You have brought the peace and comfort of Jake’s companionship to all of us this morning. I am so sorry he had to leave you, but am so grateful for the love he brought to your lives. The photos are perfect and make Jake real and a gift to all of us. Thank you.
So much love to you, Beth. Thank you for reminding me what Gwendolyn said about her beloved horse, King.
Several years ago you told me this: “On the horizon are only less bearable losses.” Jake is one of them.
That’s beautiful, Sharon. The prayer is uplifting. I’m certain that this is a very difficult time for Adrienne & you. I hope it does help a bit to know that Saint Jake will be there, front & center, when you & Adrienne go to Heaven. I find it comforting.
Thank you, dearest Laura. Jake was such a good boy. Adrienne and I will always be as grateful for him as he was for us, and actually, for any one he encountered.❤️
Sharon Friend, your love for Jake shines so beautifully in this exquisite and heart-breaking piece. Your pictures and your tribute to both Saint Jake and Adrienne are so tender. What a pair they were, and then for them to have you as companion and friend–what a gift you have been also. Peace to you and Adrienne as you live through these days of mystery and longing.
Carol: “days of mystery and longing.” More exquisite words from you. Thank you.🙏❤️
Thank you, everyone. Jake was so incredibly sweet and gentle, but especially grateful.
I will always be grateful to have shared this short period of my time with him. Here’s to our Buddha boy.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏
💖💖💖 Well said Adrienne! Jake was such a Buddha dog. It’s lovely to know you and Jake got to live a loving human/pet life for a while. 🐕🦺💕Too short of course. I’m so glad I met Jake and got to see how well loved he was by you.
Oh Sharon, the grief feels endless these days.💔❤️🩹❤️