It is sad that you put so much importance on a box that never got there.
 
Yes, it is sad they passed, but it is sad that you do not realize that
they had the most precious gift of all, you.  Your love, your willingness
to care for them.  The place in your heart that they will forever hold.
 
People make promises.  People break promises.  It is human nature.
Sometimes, people make promises that end up being impossible to meet
because of problems that arise.  Sickness, loss of a job, even loss of
a beloved ferret.  Some people will tell you that they cannot keep a
promise, but for some the idea of not being able to keep that promise
to an elderly ferret in a shelter is worse than anything they can do,
and because of embarrassment will not be honest with you or themselves.
 
Running a shelter does not entitle any of us, including myself, to
anything except hours upon hours of poop scooping, laundry, tears, and
laughter.  If a gift arrives, we are grateful for what it is.  It does
not matter whether it is what we had hoped, or just a small box of
raisins.  We are grateful for that $100 donation, and just as grateful
for that $1.00 donation.
 
I have had many promises broken, promises for donations to help with
surgeries, promises to volunteer, promises to send special gifts to our
oldie but goodies.  Some people will tell me they cannot follow through,
some do not.  But I accept that is a part of the nature of humans.  We
are very complicated animals.
 
Forget the box, remember the most precious of gifts they had in their
lives, you.  You who were willing to take them and love them no matter
what.
 
Jean
Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter
Cleveland, Ohio
www.ferretsunlimited.org
Non profit, no kill
[Posted in FML issue 5128]