He is in the details

When our children have broken hearts, our hearts hurt with them. We want to take away their pain, to comfort and hold them close; to protect them from wounds. When our children grow up to become adults, when they are geographically far away then it is not physically possible to hold them close. We still experience their pain as we give support from a distance. This is a picture of how God, our Father parents us too. When we are in pain from choices of others, from our own choices or simply from the journey of life; God knows and feels our pain too. Since He is God, He can do anything and yet, just like a parent, He grieves with us and is always available when we seek Him. These experiences are part of our growth process; of building our character. As parents, we learn to release our children, to let go. God releases us too. It brings great joy to a parent when our grown children choose to have relationship with us. God is delighted when we choose Him too.


Our daughter Crystal and son-in-love Jeremiah's beloved dog (Starbucks) of nearly 9 years died on February 18th. They live in Colorado Springs and, as her mom, I so wanted to drop everything and jump on a plane to comfort her. For those of you who know me and Eddie, know we are not really "dog" people. Yet we truly grew to love Starbucks as we watched Crystal and Jeremiah love on him. We witnessed the joy he brought them, we did come to care for him and called him our "grand dog". We miss him too. It is not any easier losing a beloved pet whether it is your first pet or second or sixth. Loss is loss and it is important to move through the feelings of grief, otherwise, these unresolved feelings will creep into life later at unexpected moments.


I believe God created dogs with a sensitivity to people's feelings. I personally have been comforted by Starbucks and years ago my best friends dog visited me when I was sick in bed. I simply cannot dismiss how God is in the details of life; whether we admit it or not God knows it all.