Dogs, God, Sorrow and Consecutive Kisses

Abbey resting after a run on the beach (which was supposed to be a "photo shoot"

“Consecutives” – short for “consecutive kisses,” a series of “kisses” that may to the untrained eye appear to be licks given to either of my two daughters by our “giant Yorkie” Abbey.

Sadly, after a bout with kidney disease so short we barely knew it was here before it took her, our dog Abbey passed away sometime Saturday night. When we first acquired her, she kept me up at night way more than any of my four babies did. She barked in a loud, body-shaking tone when guests came to the door and didn’t stop for a while after they had entered (unless we put her in her crate). She demanded attention, and any time her “older sister,” our big lab Maddie, seemed to be getting more than she, she barked and jumped to make sure we could not ignore her.

And yet, she was the dog who whined and rolled on the floor in delight when you came home after a long day away; she kept me company in my study in the early mornings and raised one sleepy eye when I asked her if a certain sentence made sense to her. My children, in varying degrees, loved her, and my husband was just plain goofy-cute with her, pulling her into his lap every evening after dinner and letting her “kiss” (lick remaining food off his face)?

So yesterday was the first day of loss. And though that little Abbey-piece of my heart had broken, God showered me with “consecutive” kisses, small uncoincidental occurrences, that reminded me that he is with always.

1. The timing. I wasn’t home. The hard decisions and the final hours were left to be stewarded by the best person to do it, my dear doctor husband. Even though I picture her little soft body (as yes, it had become over the past several weeks), I can’t bear the thought of holding it, as he did, in her final hours.

2. The words I needed to hear. This morning, after my husband called me to tell me she was gone, I opened my computer to read Matthew. But the Bible was already open to a passage I was studying the day before – Revelation 21. As it always is, it was good to read the reminder of the day of shalom finally restored, the day of no more tears is coming – and SOON.

3. Friends and family who understand were nearby. Just yesterday I visited with the friends who inspired us to get a Yorkie. When this couple first visited us at our house, they brought their cute little (8 lb.) lap dog, who sat obediently in my friend’s lap the whole time we were there. This woman’s deep compassion for furry friends is known far and wide. In addition to getting to talk with her, God also provided family. Our elder son and his girlfriend were here with me. Her family Yorkie had just passed away last year. Talk about being surrounded by people who know what this day is like!

4. Scripture again: We visited my ‘home’ church in this city. When the service began, guess what the Scripture passage was? (Yes, see above).

5. Soul-stirring songs, among them…

“How Firm a Foundation” – with this stanza opening my eyes to God’s kindness to all who suffer sorrow.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

Dear friends who stood just a few rows ahead have for the last several months been watching a close family member waste slowly toward death. God did not design us for death. And yet, he offers consecutive kisses of hope, reminding us that one day he will restore all things and those who know him will be with him forever.

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”