In the beginning, his name was Rocket. But as he grew into a 120 lb. blue tick hound/lab mix, we realized that the name "Rocket" just wasn't gonna work. So, he became Rocky - our big, lug of a pet.
He was a true friend. He listened well and always agreed with me. : ) He never retaliated if I snapped at him for almost taking my hand off while giving him a snack. All the kids lay on him at one time or another, and he just let it happen. He loved nothing more than to be with us...to be near us...to love on us.
He was a good dog. No. He was a great dog...loved by all who knew him. He scared those that needed to be scared and won-over those that could see past his huge size and deep, resounding bark.
The UPS people loved him.
My neighbors loved him.
My family loved him.
He was our Rocky. He was our friend.
So, today, I sit here on the patio, with tears brimming at the corners of my eyes wishing Rocky was in his normal spot at my feet. But he's not here. We had to say "goodbye" to him a couple of days ago, after 11 years.
"Belinda," you say, "you are normally so cheerful and carefree when you write. What is this? You are making me sad. Stop it!" I wish I could. It would be so much easier to brush off my heaviness and pretend that I'm not sad...but it's not time to do that yet. Right now, it is time to grieve.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
Losing someone or something that you love is never fun. As a matter of fact, death seems to zap all the fun right out of everything...at least for a little while.
Yes, it would be easier to pretend the sorrow didn't exist. I know some people do that. They choose to clench their jaws, tighten their "boot-straps" and go on...somehow thinking that tears are a sign of weakness.
But can I tell you, God doesn't see grief that way. He doesn't see it as something to push aside. As a matter of fact, God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3, to expect it to happen: "To everything there is a season a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and time to build up; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; (v. 1-4).
God doesn't expect us to drop our grief like a burdensome trinket and then move forward. No, He has appointed a "time" for grief. How thankful I am for that today. How thankful I am that in His Word, God doesn't shy away from the hard stuff. He doesn't glance away when we get upset, pretending that everything will be okay. He doesn't tell us to jump up from our position of mourning and pretend that nothing really hurts us. Instead, He gets right in there with us, walking us through the trenches of sorrow and pain, healing our hearts with His gentle reminders of hope: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
If you are in the first part of that verse...the mourning part...please remember, you won't be there forever. Allow yourself some "time" to mourn. Allow yourself some "time" to heal. Allow yourself some "time" to weep. It's okay. The laughter will come, my friend, as you allow God to heal your broken heart through your tears. And the dancing will come, as well...although some of us might want to opt-out of allowing this one to happen in public!
See, I'm not teary anymore, and I actually have a slight smile lifting the corners of my lips. I guess it was just time for a good chuckle.
Thank You, Jesus, that through You, I have hope...even in death. I have joy in memories and await the day when You will make all things right. I love You, Lord.
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