Director of Spiritual Care Jim Andrews
One of the earliest home movies chronicling my childhood features my two year old, toddler self bundled up in winter clothes playing out in the Indiana snow. In bounds a little golden retriever puppy (his name was Skipper) who playfully nabs my mittens and runs off! It was that same dog, 6 years later who stood between me and an enormous, snarling, barnyard dog who had sized me up for a quick lunch. Skipper was seriously wounded in that fight but that barnyard dog never did get close to me and my sister.
People who choose not to have animals in their lives often have a difficult time realizing the depth of the bond that can exist between humans and animals. As a result, the grief that is experienced when we go through the loss of a beloved pet is not always understood or validated. But, just as the love and devotion we feel is very real and very powerful, so too the grief that we experience is very real and very powerful.
May this be a place where this special and unique grief experience is recognized and honored and validated.
Have a great week, everyone. And if you have a furry friend waiting for you at home, get them a special treat. They deserve it!
Jim