A Teary-Eyed Day

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” *

 Fireworks, thunderstorms and intense heat over the fourth of July weekend proved to be too much for our ten-year old Golden Retriever, Teddy. He and TJ the lab were terrified of the booms and bangs from fireworks going off in the neighborhood several consecutive nights, even after the celebration was over!  Just when things seemed to calm down, a thunderstorm moved through our area, sending them into a panic again.

 Besides stressed nerves, Teddy had a hard time keeping cool even inside the air-conditioned house due to his heavy coat of hair. It was that beautiful coat of thick, wavy, golden hair that prompted the name Teddy (bear) when we first adopted him.  Even after haircuts, daily brushing and misting him with the hose, he was just too hot whenever the temperature rose above 80 degrees.

On Tuesday morning July 6^th, Al went out to the dining room to greet the dogs and feed them when he discovered Teddy lying unresponsive on the dining room floor. After looking more closely, he discovered that our sweet dog had passed away.  Aware that something was different, TJ was quietly sitting in the front room.

 Al and I had realized that Teddy was slowing down and nearing the life expectancy for golden retrievers, but his sudden passing was a shock. What to do? If we were still living in Springville, CA we might have buried him in the backyard alongside two other deceased pets…another golden named Sandy and Tigger the cat.

Near our home is the “Faithful Companion,” a crematorium for pets. A pet crematorium seemed strange to us country folks, but the “Whispering Pines” location where his ashes would be interred sounded like the right place. On short notice, our friends and neighbors, the Verhages, came over to help lift Teddy into the car…a tearful time for sure.

A few days later, I made a poster from a picture of him wearing a sign that said, “I only look innocent!” and put it out on the front lawn, draping it with his collar. Our two youngest grandkids and I drew pictures and wrote about Teddy with chalk on the sidewalk in front of his poster. Elliot (10) expressed how we all felt when he wrote: “To a great dog, Teddy… 2011-2021. We will miss him!”

Since then, Al and I along with TJ, have felt the pang of Teddy’s absence. God blessed us by allowing nine years with him, from his adoption as a one-year-old dog just emerging from puppyhood to a happy life in the country swimming in the pond and chasing lizards. We really got to know him better after moving to Michigan, when he and TJ became “indoors” dogs. 

His only quirk was that if there was a hole in the fence or a gate left open, he would be quick to find it and run off, with TJ following close behind. That penchant for adventure was what probably landed him in the pet foster care home in the first place, after someone discovered him wandering around the outskirts of Bakersfield.

Other than that, Teddy was a wonderful family dog, affectionate and eager to greet people, especially those with treats in their pockets! Sweet Teddy! He certainly brought lots of love and joy into our lives. His passing leaves a big void, that’s for sure. Comfort has come from many directions through cards, kind words,  phone calls, messages and even a short video that Nate (almost 12) taped for us, a thoughtful gesture. All have been very much appreciated.

This journey of ours through life is not an easy one. It seems as though our path goes uphill as we approach the end. But Jesus promised to give us peace and to be with us along the way, just as a shepherd stays beside his flock, watching over, protecting and providing for each of his sheep. Imagine our joy when one day we finally stand in the presence of our Lord and worship Him along with multitudes of His followers!

Thank you, dear Lord for being with us on this journey…pilgrimage…as we move ever closer to You. Help us to persevere, to be faithful to the end and to stand one day in Your presence! In Jesus’ name, Amen

*Psalm 23:3 NIV