God's Peace
Everyday I am reminded of God's peace but none more so as this weekend.
Sunday after we came home from church, we found our older dog, Copper, on his back in the backyard, obviously in distress. He was caught in our electric fence and for the several hours we were away, he was unable to get to shade or water.
As Jim went outside, he looked at me and said, "I think this is it." Immediately all our children began to cry.
We've known for a while that Copper was not well and probably would not be with us for long. We've tried to prepare the children but nothing, other than prayer, really can prepare them for the loss of a friend.
Jim picked up Copper and brought him inside. As the kids stood around us crying, I watched as Jim tried to get Copper some water. Jim and I looked at each other knowing the answer to the question, "What should we do?" but we wanted the kids to come to the same conclusion.
I'm not sure what was harder in this situation -- watching our 13-year old son struggle with what in his head he knew needed to be done but in his heart he refused to believe OR watching my husband watch our 13-year old son and struggle with his own emotions at the same time.
At the end of the day as a family we decided to allow Copper peace in his last moments rather than pain and suffering in what could have been his last days or weeks. But through it all, I felt God's hand with us comforting us when Jim and I had run out of words of comfort.
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
Sunday after we came home from church, we found our older dog, Copper, on his back in the backyard, obviously in distress. He was caught in our electric fence and for the several hours we were away, he was unable to get to shade or water.
As Jim went outside, he looked at me and said, "I think this is it." Immediately all our children began to cry.
We've known for a while that Copper was not well and probably would not be with us for long. We've tried to prepare the children but nothing, other than prayer, really can prepare them for the loss of a friend.
Jim picked up Copper and brought him inside. As the kids stood around us crying, I watched as Jim tried to get Copper some water. Jim and I looked at each other knowing the answer to the question, "What should we do?" but we wanted the kids to come to the same conclusion.
I'm not sure what was harder in this situation -- watching our 13-year old son struggle with what in his head he knew needed to be done but in his heart he refused to believe OR watching my husband watch our 13-year old son and struggle with his own emotions at the same time.
At the end of the day as a family we decided to allow Copper peace in his last moments rather than pain and suffering in what could have been his last days or weeks. But through it all, I felt God's hand with us comforting us when Jim and I had run out of words of comfort.
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
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