“Jesus wept” John 11:35 (NKJV)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NIV)
Randy Alcorn, in his book called “Heaven,” believes that animals will be present in the Kingdom of Heaven. C. S. Lewis, the famous Christian author of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe series also believed that pets go to heaven. I sure hope so! I have had many wonderful dogs in my life and would love to see them again. Sadly, I had to put down a sweet dog this week and she is sorely missed.
I see dogs as a lesson in unconditional love. Many folks mistreat and abuse their dogs and yet, their love, loyalty and desire to please always seems to remain. I thank God for the companionship He gave us with pets, but for me my heart has always been drawn to man’s best friend, the dog.
Becky Capps from Trust Him Always https://www.facebook.com/TrustHimAlways made this image for me. Psalm 30:11-12 means a lot and was the inspiration for naming my very first blog …. Weeping into Dancing. (Be sure to check out my older posts as there are over 500 to read. http://weepingintodancing.com However, I now direct readers to my http://facingtrials.com site for more recent posts) I started this blog out of obedience. I had never read a “blog” and did not know how to start one. Amazingly, God sent people my way to advise me and readers found the site quickly!
I wanted to encourage folks who had been through difficult trials. Turning my ashes into joy and glorifying God was my purpose. Encouraging others with His Word became (and still is) my passion. In July of 2011, I lost not only my health, but also my job; dream house, finances, possessions, friends, and a very dear dog named Bubba. The assisted living facility I was placed in would not allow dogs over 25 pounds. Bubba weighed nearly 100 pounds. Thankfully, a close friend agreed to adopt him and the life they give him is full of adventures and love. Still, the loss of his love added to my tears and sorrow. Sometimes, love hurts.
This week, my sackcloth is back on, but there is still joy in my heart. The dog I adopted after I moved to Colorado was loving, protective, obedient, and charming. I am joyful for having known my sweet Willow Cake. I have a hope that we will meet again in heaven, but I really can’t say for sure this will happen until God calls me home. My sackcloth will come off eventually, and I will once again sing His praises. For now, I am whispering them and He accepts them as precious sacrifices of praise. Even in sorrow God deserves my praise, and this loss was somehow a loving act ….. I just don’t know how, yet. None of the answers to my whys have been answered, but I don’t have to have answers. I trust God. HE is LOVE and He saw it best to take Willow home.
After recovering from my brain surgery and adjusting to the “uprooting” from Oregon to Colorado, I carried a hidden misconception. I did not know I was carrying it in my heart.
I have the head knowledge that tells me we will have trouble in this life. It does not say it ever stops. However, since I got through such a difficult challenge in life, I assumed God would “lay off” and excuse me from any further suffering.
In truth, I have had to face a lot more heartache since 2011; there has been no reprieve. However, the promise that says He will give me nothing more than I can bear has allowed me to persevere and carry on in life. When the sorrows have been too great for me to stand and move forward, I have rolled over and looked at the stars. I don’t want to drown in the puddles my tears have made. I want to meditate on His power and might.
Trials are used to work out our salvation. They refine us. When we give our hearts to God we are born again and become new creations. However, the TRANSFORMATION PROCESS takes a lifetime. God is weeding out my sins and human flaws because I am precious in His sight. He does not want to hurt me and is very aware and concerned about all of my sorrows.
My faith tells me that Willow is in a better place and that God will provide another dog for my son and I to love. This new dog will be just what we need…… as Willow was just what we needed when we first moved to Colorado. God did not say running a race would be easy. I am a bit out of breath and weary right now so your prayers would be appreciated. He gave me an extension on life, so to speak, and I am going to carry on using the time I have to encourage and love others for His glory.
I pray you treasure the pets in your home and thank God for sending them your way. Unconditional love is what we are called to share and should be our daily goal with everyone around us.
Blessings to you,
Cheryl
“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 (NKJV)
“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5 (NKJV)
Categories: INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLES
LOVE IT
Hi Ms Proverbsway,
I am glad my post spoke to your heart.
My heart aches with you & for you ….and also for Bosco as dogs grieve, too. It breaks my heart that he doesn’t know Willow is not coming home. I, also, learn about unconditional love from dogs. And they offer so much healing that just touching them brings comfort to us. Willow offered me so much comfort on some very painful nights. She was one the kindest, sweetest and most gentle dogs I’ve ever met. She was so easy to love. I fell in love with Willow only after a few visits at the Bible study in your home. So there is no way I can imagine your pain after knowing her so much longer & spending every day & night together. I agree with Billy Graham & many others that pets go to heaven. God cared about animals enough that he saved them from the flood. We already know that horses will be there, and the lion and lamb will lay together. And there’s no doubt in my mind that Willow has already met my Coyote, neither of them in any pain. I’m so thankful God gave you& I both such wonderful friends to share our life and love with. I’m praying for you & Steve, Cheryl. It’s so healthy to be writing about her/talking about it. And do you know what? I still don’t know how old she was or how long ago you adopted her?
Hello Lisa,
Thank you for your words of compassion. We got Willow only a year ago. She was 2 1/2 yrs old. This was such a short life for her and her age made my decision so much harder. However, I feel peace about having made the right decision for her and the vet was very loving and kind to both me and my sweet girl.
I certainly hope you are right. I don’t see how God wouldn’t allow our beautiful animals with us in heaven. I want to go to the heaven where dogs go. 🙂
God bless you and may he bring you peace and happiness despite the health issues you’re enduring.
I thank you for your comment Ms Warrioress. I will find my happiness in God and His provisions. My heart aches, but God’s balm is mighty and prayers for healing work wonders.
Cheryl, I love the very last picture…it looks as if Ms.Willow is looking up to heaven 🙂
I thank God for your spirit…finding a way to give praise even when pain and loss have knocked the wind out of you. I love that you have so many encouraging scriptures through out the post. May God continue to comfort you and give you peace. I pray that your faith fails not and you continue to shine your light brightly for others to see, Amen.
This is the scripture that comes to mind for you; Luke 22:31-32….Simon Peter, satan desires to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith fails not. And when you have come through this period of testing, strengthen your brothers….
Blessings my dear sister 🙂
JC
Oh my, Ms JC
Your words gave me great comfort. With tears of thanks in my eyes…. I am truly grateful. Thank you for stepping out in faith. I am encouraged.
This was very good Cheryl, thank you for blessing us all with your words. I have been blessed many times by things you have written both here and in the course of being friends. You inspire and help many people Cheryl…keep on being the blessing God has called you to be sister. I appreciate all that you do.
Greg
Greg,
Thank you for your encouraging words!! I too, have been blessed many times by YOUR words and friendship. I know paths cross for a reason and I am so glad God saw fit to cross ours. May we both be faithful to follow His leading, knowing He provides the words and skill we need to carry out His plans.
Blessing to you, brother.
“I want to meditate on His power and might.” I love those words, Cheryl. Thank you for bringing them to all of us, and thank you for being you — an inspiring light. You’re in my prayers. Big hug!
Hi Alicia,
Thank you for your comment. Even though the trials continue… the lower level of my house flooded and my new carpet had to be ripped out. I don’t have flood insurance so I am $$ out of pocket. Like many folks in CO, the flooding was disheartening, damaging, and dangerous.
The good news is that God brought us a new dog. She is beautiful, well behaved, and a great burglar alarm. She is not our sweet Willow, but she will become just as precious…. with time.
not sure how I stumbled on this blog… but must be God directed (no coincidences!) I too have had struggle this last year – going thru stage IIIC Ovarian Cancer and lost 3 of my 3 chihuahuas during my most severe illness… God reassured me in the loss of a pet – they will be with us – He gave me a poem… (I’ll personalize for you) ‘My heart is heavy, I’ve said ‘Good-Bye’, but where does a pet go when they die? My hope is that heaven is where they’ll be, and one day when I get there, I will see… my precious Willow, waiting for me’!
also have you ever seen the video of http://youtu.be/H17edn_RZoY ?? God Bless
Hi Wendy,
I am glad you found this blog. I have my own blog too, you might want to check out at http://facingtrials.com
I loved the poem you wrote. It snowed in Colorado today and Willow loved the snow. Of course my son and I missed
her this morning, but I know she is better off and free of pain. Thanks for your comment. Cheryl
oh forgot another video… http://youtu.be/yoqlwoRtEes