give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This past Thursday night was a rough one for my husband and I. We had to make a tough decision. Our dog we had for over 15 years appeared to not be well at all. He had struggled for a while and there were signs that he might have a tumor in his sinus cavity. When we had the vet go ahead with an x-ray, he came back with his nose bleeding. They did nothing, it just suddenly started bleeding. We talked to the vet, asked questions, and decided God was telling us it was his time. It was hard, especially for my husband.
I spent time thinking and talking to God that night. Talking to him about how awesome a dog Rascal was. I began thinking about all the losses we have dealt with over the last 3 years. Suddenly, while going over all of this with God, He nudged me in a different direction. I had a shift in thought.
We always say things like “I lost my mom”, “I lost my sister”, or “I lost my dog”. We always say we “lost” them. I find it hard to say that now. I now find myself saying “thank you”. Thank You for the gift of my mom and all the time I had the privilege of having her as my mom. Thank You for the gift of our dog that You allowed us to have for over 15 years. Thank You for the privilege of all these people You put in my life and allowed me to develop memory after memory with.
I have found that thanking God for all those who have been a part of my life, in the past and now, has shifted my thoughts. I am so grateful for everyone that God placed in my path, no matter for how long or short. Each one had an impact on my life and development. In one way or another, they have all helped shape who I am. Through all of them I have been shaped and led to the greatest relationship I could ever have. One with my Heavenly Father.
Through Him I find strength. Through Him I have learned love. Through Him I have the hope of an eternity surrounded by peace and love. There is nothing better than that!