I put my dog down today. 🙁 A beautiful black lab with fur soft to the touch as the finest silk. His name was Rocky and he was only 10years old but after 8 days of tests, medications and praying, he couldn’t bounce back. The vet said he most likely had a brain tumor with the most recent behavior of disorientation, running into walls, refusing to eat, etc. We called him ‘old man’ because when we accepted him into our home he had come from being the finest Champion hunting dog in East Texas. He was kenneled and with his hard work we have a multitude of awards, ribbons and certificates to show his achievement. At 7 years of age when he sauntered into our house with his big padded feet flopping along as if they were too big for his slender frame, he was already eaten up with arthritis but he had no problem receiving love and affection from my boys. Gone was his kennel replaced with a cushioned new bed. He ate well, tore up our baskets, tore up our yard, scratched my newly stained doors to shreds and offered a great amount of unconditional love. 🙁 Yes, I’m sad.
As I listened to morning prayer getting ready I already felt myself ‘prepare’ for this Holy Week. I didn’t know today would be the day I’d put my dog down, but what this has done for me is truly put into a HUGE perspective of the Sacrifice Jesus endured for ME (US) as the events of this week unfold. Rocky was a dog and yes I’m sad. But when I think about CHRIST being beaten, shunned, spit on, reviled, and betrayed BY ME in the times I chose to act less than Christian to strangers, friends and especially family … the anguish is unbearable.
I feel guilty about the times I might have treated a dog badly…I can’t allow myself to not take inventory of whom I need to pray for that I may have treated badly in this past year. How beautiful we have a chance to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be cleansed just as Jesus cleansed the feet of His disciples. Oh, the Grace.
Even the death of a dog that has no soul can lead me into a greater perspective of the lives we live that DO. Please pray for me as I break the news to the boys this afternoon and help me find the grace to put this loss into a greater perspective as we experience Holy Week.
I will post a Video blog tomorrow but in observation of Holy Week will not post a blog again till I can rejoice on Easter Monday.
Blessings to you and your family,
Shannon
PS. An article I wrote called LOVE CHALLENGED is featured on www.CatholicExchange.com check it out.