I just returned from the veterinarian's office, where I had our beloved family dog, Cora, put to sleep. She was just nine years old, and had been in good health up until this past week when she began showing symptoms of kidney failure. She spent 48 hours in the animal hospital, but even after extensive treatment she was still showing blood tests levels that were off the charts, even with some improvement. We thought that maybe she wasn't eating due to the hospital setting, and brought her home last night to see if that would help. Everything that she ate or drank was vomited up within a minute, and she began to show signs of shutdown, to the point that she was unable to walk before noon today. She had a very peaceful passing, but one of the last things I told her was "I'm sorry". Now, I might not be thinking too clearly at present, but I really should be sorry.
I should be sorry that death is the result of man's sin. In Romans 5 we read:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin (Romans 5:12a, ESV)
When you stop and think about it, puppy dogs, and gold fish, and every other living thing dies because man sinned. Death is the result of sin.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:19-22, ESV)
All of that groaning, all of that pain, all of that suffering, all of that misery is the result of OUR sin. Yes, God will make all things right, and break the curse of sin and death, but death and suffering in creation are the result of sin. Not sin in puppy dogs, but sin in men.
Yes, Cora, I truly am sorry.
Cora
1998-2008
A very good dog
1998-2008
A very good dog
5 comments:
I am so sorry about your dog. I had to put my cat of eight years to sleep last spring and it was truly grievous. :-(
And you are absolutely correct. We owe a lot of apologies. I'm just so GLAD that the part we wrote isn't the end of the story.
-J
Thanks.
BTW, your aunt wanted you to know that it was Psalm 1, not Proverbs 1 on your blog, but i thought it would be tacky to post that over there.
I am glad that you are one of my two readers.
And do you know what's worse about that Psalm/Proverbs glich? That is the first chapter I ever memorized. I KNOW that it is PSALM one! Well, I can't always predict when my brain will go on vacation! :-) Thanks for the heads up; I have corrected it.
God gives us family to keep us humble.
;>)
I'm so sorry about your dog, I had never seen it that way but its so true, I'm so sorry that because of our sin 4 of my dogs have died, all died due to rat poisoning...I have just one pup left and he's old, he's a 6 year old chihuahua.
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