June 18, 2012 was a very sad day for me and my family.  We had to make a hard decision regarding our dogs, Carley & Cassie.  They were 15 years old and pretty ill.  My husband and I knew that it was time to say our goodbyes to our sweet, loving, and precious doggies.  I truly believe my dogs knew in their heart that it was their time to go and be at rest.  They were very quiet and sleepy all day, so we all got on the bed and cuddled up together and hugged and loved on the girls, knowing that this would be our last time to do this.  Needless to say, there were a lot of tears shed on this very sad day.

I am proud of our son, Caleb for handling this loss as well as he has for a 6 year old.  He just had a birthday on July 3rd!  For my husband and me…it has been a lot harder because we’ve loved Carley & Cassie for 15 years. Our puppies were our babies long before Caleb came into the picture.  We used to say that our dogs were little people with fur.

I know that things will get better with time, and one day we will be able to share without crying, all the fun and wonderful times we had with our furry family members.  But for right now, we are trying really hard to deal with the pain as best we can.  We still cry a lot because it’s very lonely around the house, and very quiet.  It feels very strange at times.  So…

In the meantime, I was looking through my Bible for verses that might help us with our grief. The Bible does not speak specifically of the destiny of animals, but there is a promise in the letter to the Ephesians which surely must include them. Ephesians 1:10: “Everything that exists in heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Christ.”

Isaiah 41:10 (One of my favorite verses) – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This verse is here to remind us as Christians, that God is to be the source of our strength, and only He can fully support us. It also reminds me as a pet owner that there is nothing to fear, not even death, and that we will get through this intense feeling of loss. Prayer is a great way to work through the sharp sadness of the first few days or weeks without your beloved companion (s).

Luke 12:6 – Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

This verse directly speaks about God’s love for His creation, even the small and inexpensive birds sold for pennies in the ancient markets. God cares about the suffering and life of every animal in his creation, and also loves the pet’s owner. It’s comforting to know that God remembers each moment of a pet’s life, and delights in the beauty of each part of his created world, no matter how small. This is one of the most comforting Bible verses when a pet dies.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope and pray that I was able to help someone else who is grieving the loss of a dear pet (s).

God bless you,

Melissa ~

Author of – I Love You to the Moon