Into the Fire

I wasn't going to post today because people get tired of hearing about grief. Some people don't particularly think it's a big deal when a pet dies. Some people don't think it should be. "Just an animal" after all. Those are the ones that make me want to cuss. 

I'm deeply saddened at the death of our beautiful German Shepherd. He was a truly amazing dog. So very smart. And, as crazy as it sounds, he was my best friend of the non-verbal kind although he often sang along to "Hallelujah" by Chris Botti and a few other tunes he especially liked. He took his naps to a Smooth Jazz station.

Those who don't connect with animals can't understand the magnificent friendships we share with them, how deeply involved we get with them, the love we give to each other. This one was incredible, very protective of me, and right now I'm empty without him in the way we feel when they don't greet us when we get home, we don't hear their light snoring, we no longer know where they are in the house and outside at all times because they aren't here. It's all . . . over.

And the grief is horrendous. So there it is. Whether or not you get it. It's real.

Father, you gave him to us for the allotted time. You know how much we're hurting. You know he was the perfect one for us. You knew how much love we would invest in our gift. Thank you is never enough. Never. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.