We lost our family dog this week. Now, we’re not the kind of family that treats our animals like humans, but it’s amazing how these creatures weave themselves into our lives.
And through this loss of one of God’s creatures, God has revealed His faithfulness. He uses all of life’s circumstances to teach us and bring light to His Word, over and over again.
This isn’t just about a family pet, so read on to see how God weaves a beautiful lesson!
Labelle – was a loyal part of our family for nine years – was given to us by a dear friend (thanks, Susan!) – was a guide-dog flunkie (a great place to find a great dog – Guide Dogs for the Blind) – and she actually saved our daughter’s life many years ago. She was strong and healthy, but through a misunderstanding with our neighbor who was caring for our animals, she was hit by a car while we were away on a trip. God always has new lessons in forgiveness and responsibility for us!
The loss of an animal, be it a cat or dog, goat or fish, is never as traumatic as losing a person in our lives. Yet, it is as if God gives us these animal friends and the experience of losing them, as practice for the real thing – for the time when it will be a beloved person: a husband, wife, child, parent, friend.
I began reading Ecclesiastes this week and a verse that has often confused me in the past was given new meaning.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart.Ecclesiastes 7:2
New revelation comes as we teach and explain things to others, and again, this held true as I shared this chapter with my family.
- Feeling the pain of loss brings us into “the house of mourning”.
- Experiencing the reality of the brevity of life and the permanency of death paints us into the picture of “the end of every man.”
- This experience truly causes us to “take it to heart,” to ponder our life.
God’s Amazing Timing
It always amazes me how God puts circumstances in our lives that blend and connect in the perfect timing and manner so as to teach us His ways. Our dog died while we were on vacation to visit my husband’s mother who is 78, and my parents who are in their mid 80’s. During our trip, we listened to a Highland Ministries Basement Tape by R.C. Sproul, Jr. about the recent death of his dear wife, Denise. All of these experiences in a very short amount of time add up to a clear picture of the brevity of life. This truly does cause us to “take it to heart”, to consider our ways, to ponder our life, our future, our purpose.
Coming to the end of a lifetime with my parents, hearing of others who suffer loss of a loved one, and even the simple death of our dog heighten my awareness of the importance of relationships. So, relationships will be my topic in a series of posts this month.
Please come and share with me, this human life we live, along with the people (and even animals) that God puts in it for our good. It’s all for our good! The pain, the joy, the pleasure, the pain. He uses it all for our growth and to reveal Himself to us. Let us glorify Him during this life He has given us. Let us relish in the relationships He gives us, for He is the author of relationships!
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance….
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
