A Gift of Grief
If you love a dog, or have ever loved a dog, then you know the smothering anxiety, the borderline panic attacks, the sheer terror of potential loss. Or, at least that’s my honest assessment of my own process. I’m not very good at grieving.
It’s just a dog, you might say. Well no, she’s imbued with the dignity of a family’s love — besides, she’s a living creation and carries a soul.God imbues us with the dignity of His love. After all, He created the animal kingdom and all of nature for His glory and for Adam and Eve’s benefit. They were commanded to tend, love, and nurture what God had spoken into existence. What a mess we’ve made of it all. And, all of God’s creation suffers and groans for our fall. (See Romans 8:19–23)Last Friday, we took our five-year-old west German Shepherd to the vet. She hasn’t been herself for the past few weeks, less spunk, and a change in breathing rhythm. We thought maybe she’d picked up a bug. So, we made an appointment with the vet and expect …