A Sad Day

We had just returned last night (January 7) from a very good 4-day trip to south Florida when we received news about 11:30am that one of our pet guinea pigs had died. We had left Precious and Sparky in the care of two neighborhood friends of Christopher and Charissa while we went south. They did a wonderful job, providing attentive, loving care. But on Sunday afternoon, during a 30-second distraction, their own pet dachshund got into the room and attacked Precious. It was over for her in a few seconds, without a lot of pain or suffering. The kids ran in as soon as they heard the commotion and grabbed the dog, but it was too late for Precious.

Precious was Christopher's guinea pig, and her death was a very hard shock to him. About two hours after we got the news, we retrieved the two pets (Precious came home in an orange shoebox) and held a brief internment ceremony in the woods behind our house. Tears were shed by all for a beloved little pet with a sweet and responsive disposition.

We don't know anywhere in the Scriptures where it says anything about the destiny of animals, but we do know that a merciful and loving God made them and allows us to love them for awhile. It wouldn't surprise me at all that, once we're in heaven, that God would bless us somehow through these little creatures. In my imagination, maybe God will use these little departed blessings to somehow "wipe away every tear". Again, the Bible doesn't say that God will do something like this...but it would be just like the creative, empathetic Father he is to warm His children this way.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20.