Death of a pet
Our cat Jasper died yesterday. My wife and I got him about fourteen years ago, right after we were married. He had been sick for quite a while, so it was not unexpected. (No, he is not dead in this picture, that was just one of his favorite spots for "hanging out")

The death of a pet can be used as a way to help our kids understand how to deal with truly sad events. Death is not something to be hidden away and not talked about; instead it should be discussed and understood as part of the process of life. When it was obvious that Jasper was not going to make it much longer, we allowed all the kids to say their "last words" to him. After he had died, we called the kids in and let them see him and say goodbye. There was much crying and sadness, but after a while the talk turned to the funny experiences we had with him and how much we loved him. At dinner we thanked the Lord for letting us have him in our lives.

One of my kids keeps talking about how Jasper is in heaven and how much he must be enjoying himself. My wife and I decided it that there is no point in discussing the theology of animals in heaven. You never know: it may be possible that our pets will be there with us.

There is still some sadness around the house, but most of the attention is now turned to Jasper's sister, Josie. The kids all appreciate her so much more. I hope this experience has helped our kids (and us) deal with death (and other trying times) just a little bit better.  ¶ 3:27 PM 0 comments