For those of us who are pet owners, we have all had that one pet who so captured our hearts that when the time came to let them go, it was the hardest thing we ever did. All of them are special, but there is always that one.
I have had quite a few pets throughout my lifetime. I have loved them all, each in their own unique way. But that special one for me was a black and white tuxedo cat named Ella. She was quite the character. And she chose me to be her human. Wherever I was, Ella was there. When she couldn’t find me, she would howl like a banshee, and she was LOUD. I love cats and have had quite a few over the years, but none have ever been as loud as Ella. She definitely lived up to her name! She was named after Ella Fitzgerald, because even as a small kitten she was always “singing.”
She did not like to be held but was always snuggled up next to me as close as she could sit. Unless I was working on my computer and then she liked to sit on the computer itself. It made working rather challenging! And she would sleep laying right next to me, stretched out along my side every night. She lived to be seventeen and died, unfortunately, when I was not at home. I regret not being there with her as she passed from this life into the next.
Owning a pet brings a lot of responsibility to ensure they are taken care of, they get food, water, Vet visits, exercise and in return, they give us so much joy. But then, there comes the time when our pets need us to make the final decision for them. They are old, sick, in pain, and we will need to say the hard goodbye. It is especially hard when it is that one pet. My stepson’s special girl was EllieMae. A beautiful, black shepherd/lab mix. She was a big dog and from the moment she saw my stepson, she was in love. She was his wing dog and loved riding shotgun in his truck. They went everywhere together.
But a few days ago, she had a seizure. And then she had another. And then she began having them frequently. The vet prescribed an anti-convulsant, but it didn’t help. Blood work showed she had some cancer markers and probably had a brain tumor that grew to a large enough size that it was the cause of the seizures. The seizures began taking away her ability to walk and then she couldn’t see and became disoriented. And so yesterday morning at 10am, the vet met him at her offices and EllieMae walked across the rainbow bridge. She will be sorely missed. She was an amazing dog who gave her love freely to her special human.
For everyone who has lost a pet, you understand. Our pets bring a lot of love into our lives. They are a great source of comfort when we are sad. They bring laughter with their silly antics. And I can’t imagine a world without pets. And so I want to offer this prayer for all pets everywhere. It was written by Mark Zimmerman and It was the prayer I offered at the blessing of the pets last October:
Creator God, you created animals for us to love and care for. Thank you for the joy they bring into our lives, and for the companionship they provide. Keep all of our pets safe and protected from harm. Give them nourishment and strength to continue to live well in this world and in our homes. Through our attachment with them, give us a glimpse of the bond you have with each of us. Bless the animals in our care as they eat and sleep, move and lay, play and interact with us. Let us rejoice in you through them. Amen.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 