It’s that time of the year when it seems to get so busy no matter how prepared you are. Just when I’m patting myself on the back for being so ahead of the game I find that every moment is filling with people to see and places to go. Everyday I’m adding something else on my calendar. I didn’t put any thought to my blog this week until today when I was sitting in the hair salon next to a lady that had just lost her dog to cancer. She was so upset I could feel her pain.

Losing a family pet is one of the things in life that so many of us have had to endure. This time of the year makes it that much harder. I share the love for animals with my husband and we’ve had many dogs over the years. We’ve always been blessed with the room to have as many as four at a time. They all brought so much joy into our home. Now that we are retired and have moved into a smaller home we’re down to three. All of our pets have lived exceptionally long lives. We always figured it was because they didn’t want to leave us. It never got easier saying good-bye when the time came.

As a Christian I was never too sure if our four legged family members went to heaven or not. This was very disturbing to me and for others that I had shared this concern with. There are many opinions about this topic from clergymen, so I wasn’t getting a convincing answer until I heard what Billy Graham had to say about it.

I have always trusted and loved Mr. Graham. He has always lived by God’s word and knows it well. He said, “I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness. If it takes my dog being there [in heaven] I believe he’ll be there.” That said it all for me. I then found several other well informed and respected clergymen that believe very much that our pets are in heaven. So I want to share with you something I wrote for a little girl that was hurting from the loss of her family dog many years ago.

If they could only speak

Like family you took me in.

So privileged, I grew up with my best friend.

Treated like royalty I slept on your bed.

Many went hungry I was fed.

Lots of toys and who’s a good boy

I was loved and comforted to the very end

I didn’t leave you, I’ve just gone ahead.

I hope fond memories bring you to smile.

I promise my passing will only hurt for a while.

So don’t be sad, we’ll meet again later

In our heavenly home, a place far greater.

Thank you so much for a wonderful life.

Always and forever grateful.

Your best friend,