Friday, April 23, 2010
When a Pet Dies
It's hard to traverse the journey of a pet who is dying. It is especially tricky when you have young kids, because to them, he is more like a sibling than just an animal. And of course, he is more than "just" an animal to us as well. But, we more readily depict the differences between his passing versus a family member's movement beyond this world.
We've been preparing our kids for this day, Sage's last day. Our tan kitty who used to weigh seventeen pounds and easily stood three feet tall when standing up on his back feet, is now a seven pound pile of tender bones and fur. He is the one who used to race his paws on our bedroom door like an Olympic swimmer, the same one who would shut our bedroom door in those wee morning hours, begging to come back in. He was the one who kept my kids' beds warm, the one who tickled his nose up into my face in the early morning to say hello. I will miss him tremendously because he was our "baby" before we actually had real babies.
We told our son before leaving for school that he would not see his kitty again. So, he said goodbye. He was sad, but fairly collected, as he knew this day was coming. Each of the last three visits to the vet were optimistic attempts to extend this period out, but to no avail, old age and obtrusive tumors have taken their toll. He can no longer breathe comfortably. His body aches at every turn and his walking now requires assistance.
To help my middle daughter grieve, I asked her to draw her kitty a goodbye note and a picture. She wrote, "Goodbye Sage. I love you Sage" and then signed her name. We found three books with cats in them and sat in the downstairs bathroom to read them to him. He lies on one of our family blankets and another gently covers his body. My daughter set his water right next to his head so he wouldn't have to get up. We also sang "Jesus loves kitty, this I know..." to comfort him during these last hours.
Saying goodbye is hard no matter how old you are. Tears have already filled my eyes just writing this piece. I want to be the mature one, the one to comfort my kids when Sage breathes his last breath, but I'm afraid that they will have to comfort me. I know today is his last day; I can tell by his lowered level of consciousness and by his depleted will to go on. I guess it's the way it's supposed to be. He looks peaceful, unconcerned with the things around him. It's like he knows that he's moving on.
Goodbye Sage. I love you my sweet kitty. I will miss you and remember you always. I wish you didn't have to die, but that is part of this life, moving on and saying goodbye to us. Thank you for the cat you have been for our family, a loving, tenacious, and faithful cat.
We've been preparing our kids for this day, Sage's last day. Our tan kitty who used to weigh seventeen pounds and easily stood three feet tall when standing up on his back feet, is now a seven pound pile of tender bones and fur. He is the one who used to race his paws on our bedroom door like an Olympic swimmer, the same one who would shut our bedroom door in those wee morning hours, begging to come back in. He was the one who kept my kids' beds warm, the one who tickled his nose up into my face in the early morning to say hello. I will miss him tremendously because he was our "baby" before we actually had real babies.
We told our son before leaving for school that he would not see his kitty again. So, he said goodbye. He was sad, but fairly collected, as he knew this day was coming. Each of the last three visits to the vet were optimistic attempts to extend this period out, but to no avail, old age and obtrusive tumors have taken their toll. He can no longer breathe comfortably. His body aches at every turn and his walking now requires assistance.
To help my middle daughter grieve, I asked her to draw her kitty a goodbye note and a picture. She wrote, "Goodbye Sage. I love you Sage" and then signed her name. We found three books with cats in them and sat in the downstairs bathroom to read them to him. He lies on one of our family blankets and another gently covers his body. My daughter set his water right next to his head so he wouldn't have to get up. We also sang "Jesus loves kitty, this I know..." to comfort him during these last hours.
Saying goodbye is hard no matter how old you are. Tears have already filled my eyes just writing this piece. I want to be the mature one, the one to comfort my kids when Sage breathes his last breath, but I'm afraid that they will have to comfort me. I know today is his last day; I can tell by his lowered level of consciousness and by his depleted will to go on. I guess it's the way it's supposed to be. He looks peaceful, unconcerned with the things around him. It's like he knows that he's moving on.
Goodbye Sage. I love you my sweet kitty. I will miss you and remember you always. I wish you didn't have to die, but that is part of this life, moving on and saying goodbye to us. Thank you for the cat you have been for our family, a loving, tenacious, and faithful cat.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Saved by Grace
What if you died today? Do you know where you would go? Most people become extremely stressed out when they have to discuss the topic of death. Whether it involves the planning of a will, someone's life insurance policy, or just religious beliefs in general, people frequently prefer to avoid the topic.
When you see those corny commercials where the wife and husband happen to wander into the kitchen for a late-night snack at the exact same minute, you sense the fabrication of the scene. You'd bet a million dollars you were about to watch a life insurance advertisement. And, usually you'd be right.
Why is it that we avoid the topic of death? Or, at the very least, why does it make us shift uncomfortably in our seat, no matter where we're sitting? I think it's because we prefer to be alive, so it makes the topic of death or of dying a pretty uncomfortable one. But, here's the real deal: death is cool. Unlike the phony life insurance commercial that's supposed to give you the warm fuzzies, the Bible offers hope and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
When you do come face to face with conversations pertaining to death, grab your Bible. Not that you shouldn't get all of your practical financial issues in order pertaining to passing away, but your peace with the Creator should come as the biggest priority. As I was driving up a long road after dropping my three kids at school, the concept of God's grace was really soaking in to my thick skull covered by medium-length brown hair.
While I've had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ since I was ten years old, I was really blown away during my time alone in the car by the fact that there's nothing I have to worry about spiritually before I die. I don't have to stress about the "what ifs" before dying because Jesus is my bridge, my peace, and my full payment. Sometimes death seems stressful because you might think, "Well, I have to do this, this, and that before I die...how stressful not to know when it will be?"
The thing is, if you walk with Jesus, HE is your all in all. He is sufficient. Doesn't that blow your mind? Of course, your life should demonstrate your love for Him on a daily basis, but you don't have to worry about the incidentals. He's taken care of them. You already have your "Get out of Jail Free" pass.
The popular verse that shows up in the background of NFL games is the basic truth of our faith. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." But, some people want to complicate the Gospel's simplicity by saying, "But you also have to do this, that, and the other thing. It's not just because of Jesus."
The next verse states, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." You see, it's not really about you, it's just about Jesus. He won't bully His way into your heart, but once He comes in, He's there to stay. Revelation 3:20 says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." It does not say, "If you do all of these other things too." What a relief, huh? While I definitely love LIVING, I'm pretty stoked about dying too. Heaven is gonna be the party of the century, so we better start sending out our Evites now.
When you see those corny commercials where the wife and husband happen to wander into the kitchen for a late-night snack at the exact same minute, you sense the fabrication of the scene. You'd bet a million dollars you were about to watch a life insurance advertisement. And, usually you'd be right.
Why is it that we avoid the topic of death? Or, at the very least, why does it make us shift uncomfortably in our seat, no matter where we're sitting? I think it's because we prefer to be alive, so it makes the topic of death or of dying a pretty uncomfortable one. But, here's the real deal: death is cool. Unlike the phony life insurance commercial that's supposed to give you the warm fuzzies, the Bible offers hope and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
When you do come face to face with conversations pertaining to death, grab your Bible. Not that you shouldn't get all of your practical financial issues in order pertaining to passing away, but your peace with the Creator should come as the biggest priority. As I was driving up a long road after dropping my three kids at school, the concept of God's grace was really soaking in to my thick skull covered by medium-length brown hair.
While I've had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ since I was ten years old, I was really blown away during my time alone in the car by the fact that there's nothing I have to worry about spiritually before I die. I don't have to stress about the "what ifs" before dying because Jesus is my bridge, my peace, and my full payment. Sometimes death seems stressful because you might think, "Well, I have to do this, this, and that before I die...how stressful not to know when it will be?"
The thing is, if you walk with Jesus, HE is your all in all. He is sufficient. Doesn't that blow your mind? Of course, your life should demonstrate your love for Him on a daily basis, but you don't have to worry about the incidentals. He's taken care of them. You already have your "Get out of Jail Free" pass.
The popular verse that shows up in the background of NFL games is the basic truth of our faith. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." But, some people want to complicate the Gospel's simplicity by saying, "But you also have to do this, that, and the other thing. It's not just because of Jesus."
The next verse states, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." You see, it's not really about you, it's just about Jesus. He won't bully His way into your heart, but once He comes in, He's there to stay. Revelation 3:20 says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." It does not say, "If you do all of these other things too." What a relief, huh? While I definitely love LIVING, I'm pretty stoked about dying too. Heaven is gonna be the party of the century, so we better start sending out our Evites now.
Labels: Bible, death, grace, Jesus
