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Listen while you read: "There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing"1
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John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Sophie, my retriever cross, had started panting during our walks, so I took her to see our veterinarian. After a thorough examination, the vet deduced that it was most likely a touch of arthritis, due to Sophie's age. She also remarked how fit and agile Sophie was at the age of eleven. Her advice was to begin Sophie on a course of green-lipped mussel powder that has remarkable powers to relieve arthritic pain. Following said advice, I did so, and though Sophie still panted some, she seemed much improved, until the day that she wasn't.
It all began when we came in from our evening walk, and Sophie declined her meal. Considering the high heat that day, however, I was not concerned. The next morning when she declined her food again and I noticed her panting increasing at an alarming rate, as well as a weakness in her hind quarters, I knew that something was dreadfully wrong. As my veterinarian was away, I called another clinic, an hour away, who told me to transport Sophie immediately.
With my daughter's help, we carried Sophie to the car, and I was on my way. The vet assistant met me at the door, and after a preliminary blood panel was completed, the veterinarian informed me that Sophie was in kidney failure, and nothing could be done. Her symptoms pointed to a silent tumour on the kidney, something that does not normally reveal itself until it is too late, something to which retrievers are very prone. Something which, in turn, caused Sophie, in the vet's words, to throw a blood clot or stroke that was paralyzing her hind quarters and causing great pain. The veterinarian knew what needed to be done, and so did I, so I gave him permission to euthanize my beloved girl.
As I stood there in tears, with Sophie on the table beside me, and a friend who had graciously driven to the clinic standing with me, my friend said to me, "How very hard it is to make such a heartbreaking decision!" My answer to her came as a surprise to both of us, as I said, "Love always comes with a price tag."
Later, as I was walking for the first time in eleven years without Sophie at my side, I remembered those words and how true they are, especially for God. Let us be especially grateful to God, Who loved the world so much that He was willing to pay the price tag which demanded the death of His one and only precious Son, Jesus, Who lovingly came to earth to die, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Prayer: Thank You so much, Lord God, for being willing to pay the price of love for us, which demanded the death of Your beloved Son. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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Always a difficult decision.
Thank you for sharing, Lynne. I am sorry for your loss.
Dear Lynne
All I can say is “Amen, Amen, and Amen.”
Blessings.
Thank you, Lynne, for sharing your message in a meaningful way.
(Ontario)
Thank you for your writing. I lost my dog suddenly last week due to unknown blood related problem and this was just what I needed.
Dear Lynne, I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Sophie sounded like a beautiful and loyal pet. Thank you for reminding us of God’s loss and love when he gave up his beloved son for us. God bless!
So sorry for your loss, Lynne. I know how difficult it is to lose a beloved pet. We and our daughter have lost several dogs, cats, and 2 horses over the years. Our daughter has no children, and her animals are very special to her. Thanks for sharing your story. Blessings.
Dear Lynne,
How beautiful is this, sad to hear about Sophie but how grateful to Christ. It is a heart wrenching choice to make at the vets for sure, had to do a few times.
God bless you.
Thank you, Lynne, for today’s touching devotion.
It makes me recall many funerals I attended as Elder in our church and meeting the families of the deceased.
It was such heartbreaking moments, but Jesus showed us that we can be strong in him to go on.
Blessings,
(Quebec)
Good afternoon, Lynne. Sad to hear about Sophie. She sounded like a great companion. My heart aches for you, and I too will someday soon have to go through this once again. Sigh, but this time, I believe it will be our last ‘fur baby’. We’re getting too old now, and it wouldn’t be fair to a dog… time will tell. I can hardly remember not having a dog.
Take care, and the greatest gift is ‘love’. He said so.
Lynne,
So sorry about your heartbreaking loss of Sophie. You were blessed to have each other.
Once again, your life experiences have been used for a greater good – pointing us to, and reminding us of, God’s love for us.
Thank you for sharing your heart in this way.
May God continue to Bless you and use you.
Oh my dear Lynne. My deepest condolences to you as I understand just how hard it must be for you.
I would like to let you know that your ability to navigate life as a Christian and share it through your writing is an immeasurable gift.
I personally connect to your writings, and they are helpful.
Heartfelt condolences to you.
Good morning, Lynne, I am so sorry for your loss. We went through the same with our beloved chocolate lab. During the procedure, I wasn’t aware of it, but I was reciting the 23rd Psalm so loudly that the construction workers next door put their equipment down. We, as women of Faith, draw on Jesus’s strength when we are weak, and heaven burdened. May Sophie continue to live on in your heart.
Serving Christ always,
(Ontario)
Thank you for sharing this devotional with us. It’s so very hard to make the decision to say a permanent goodbye to those we love. Sad to say, I’ve been there with my golden retriever… also due to cancer. His was in his esophagus choking him. We relieved him of his misery, and I bawled the whole way home. As sad as that goodbye was, it didn’t compare to the depth of grief when my husband died… also from cancer. That disease is a heartbreaking scourge. Blessings.
Dear Lynne, my sincere sympathies to you as you go forward without your precious Sophie. Pets definitely become such a part of the family and are sincerely missed when they are no longer with us. As you always do, you have written another very meaningful and positive devotional, interweaving a life’s happening with the special love and care we receive from God. He truly is ever watching over us with abundant love. Blessings for another of your very special devotionals and may your memories of happy days with Sophie give you comfort.
Good morning, Lynne,
I am sorry for your loss of Sophie. Your devotional is a good one for me because sometimes I don’t think deeply on John 3:16 and what it meant to God. I think because Jesus rose from the dead. I am not sure. I value the gift that Jesus’ death gave to us. Sometimes I do forget that when God’s people are troubled, He is saddened and cares for us and wants us to come to Him.
Thank you for sharing of your loss. It helps us all to think deeper about our own faith. “Love always comes with a price tag.” Blessings.
Dear Lynne,
I am very sorry to hear of Sophie’s death. It’s so very hard to lose a beloved pet and from your devotions, Sophie was certainly loved. You will miss her greatly.
My husband and I had two dogs. One was a year old when we brought the second one home. They lived to be 15 and 14 when we had to put them down within 3 weeks of each other. They too were in pain. That was several years ago, and they are still missed very much. We moved into an apartment within a year after they died, and it has a no pets policy. I would get another pet in a minute if I could.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Lynne, at this sad time. May you find peace in knowing Sophie is not in pain.
Oh, My, Lynne…. our English Setter is 13. About two weeks ago we were quite sure he would need to go to the vet to be “put down.” He couldn’t walk, etc. It was about. 8 at night; so, we decided to wait until the next day…when he experienced an amazing recovery. It so happened we saw our vet at the movie the next day and he said, “I expect it was a reaction to the anesthesia I gave him to remove the small growth on his face.” DUH, never dawned on us. Since he is 13, like his “MOM and DAD” aging takes its toll.
Then I was reminded of our previous dog. My husband has NEVER been able to take the dogs to the vet when it came time…NEVER. So, I took her. The vet tech attendant asked me if I wanted to be with her. I said that I did not think I could. I WILL NEVER FORGET that as she was taken away, she turned her head and looked at me with those wondering eyes…oh me.
This is a long way of saying thank you for the analogy of your devotional today.
Thank you for sharing such a touching story. I will remember your price tag line. So true. Big hugs across the miles. Sorry for your pain.