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Focal verse
“Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?” (Job 35:11).
Reflection:
As our beloved shelter dog, Lars, grew increasingly gray and struggled to sit down, we knew his days with us were coming to an end. Yet as much as we talked about one day saying goodbye to our pet, we couldn’t fully prepare for the heartache. My husband and I had our own sadness to feel, but we were also attuned to walking our kids through the loss of their pet.
Over 13 years, Lars walked many miles with me. He camped with us and made himself comfortable on the camper bed at night. He paced and whined on the night we brought our daughter home from the hospital. When I rocked and nursed my babies, he’d lie at my feet. He was always gentle with our kids, letting them climb all over him. Whether I was writing or working out, he stayed by my side. We all adored our dog.
When the time came to put Lars to sleep, we talked openly with our kids about the process. We reminded them that Lars had been getting older and was no longer able to do the things dogs love. We let them love on the dog and sat with them in their grief. One of them cried whereas the other took it more matter-of-factly: “It’s just a part of life.” On the day we took him to the vet, the kids and I scrolled through pictures of Lars and reminisced. We gave thanks for his life and the love he showed us.
The pets in our lives are part of our families. They teach us about unconditional love as well as responsibility. They are there to offer comfort and support. They are God’s beautiful creatures. And at the end of their lives, they provide us with a way to talk about death and grief.
We get to model for our children how to say goodbye. And we’re reminded that no two people grieve in the same way.
It’s been a few weeks now since Lars’ death. We still miss him and talk about him. We also give thanks to God for putting him in our lives. We trust that our love connects us still.
Practices
- Read books about pet loss together to guide your conversation. One good resource is The Light in My Bunny by Luna Vargas (Beaming Books, 2024).
- Step outside and see the beauty of God’s creation in animals. Watch for birds and butterflies. Get low and study ants and caterpillars. A fun children’s song to sing together about all God’s “critters” is Bill Staines’ “A Place in the Choir.”
- Volunteer at an animal shelter in your community or contact the state conservation society in your area to see how you can help.
Prayer practice
Sing or read the words of a hymn as your dinner or bedtime prayer—for example, “All Creatures, Worship God Most High!” (ELW 835). Name together the animals and pets that have blessed your life. Lift up animals that need protection. Research how you can help protect endangered species.
