Thankful

His red blood cell count was a little lower than it should have been. His white blood cell count was higher than it should have been. Enzymes in his kidneys were elevated, but that wasn’t the worst of it. His liver enzymes were very high, indicating some type of toxicity or infection. The x-ray suggested otherwise, though. His liver was enlarged; so much so, that it was pushing his spleen and intestines toward the rear of his body. As much as I hoped for an alternative, it looks like my best friend has cancer.

Snoopy is the first, and only dog I’ve ever purchased. I bought him from an animal science professor in Missouri. When he was only eight weeks old, I drove to Kansas to pick him up. He was smaller than a shoebox. Not content to ride in the passenger seat on the way home, he found his way into the front of my coat and fell asleep. Of course, when we got home and he had to sleep by himself…well, nobody slept! I strategically avoided telling my husband at the time about puppies being away from the litter for the first few nights. Still, Snoopy quickly won our hearts and became part of the family.

Since I worked as an agronomist, Snoopy was able to come with me and run the fields while I scouted. I’ll never forget the first time he smelled a quail. He stopped dead in his tracks. He sniffed this way and that way, slowly creeping through the grass until he froze like a statue. I didn’t think I was going to get him to move. All of a sudden, a fat quail took flight and Snoopy was off, chasing her as far as I’d let him! Since that time, he’s found pheasants, quail, grouse, jack rabbits, elk, deer, and a baby porcupine. The funniest encounter, though, was watching Snoopy try to keep up with the jack rabbit. I didn’t know they could turn so quickly!

He’s been with me every day, all day long. He’s been with me through good times, and there have been plenty of bad times. He’s never left my side, even in the house…just like God. My Lord has been with me every day, all day long. He’s been with me through good times and through every mess I’ve found myself in. He’s never left my side, even when I’ve tried to hide from him. He’s been my best friend, even when I didn’t know he was. So, there is no one else I’d trust to take care of me or my other best friend. Afterall, God created all things, and he loves his creation!

As I prepare my beloved dog for his transition back to the Father, I will cry. I already have. First and foremost, though, I will be thankful. I thank God for being so creative. I thank him for making this beautiful earth. I thank him for the plants that keep us healthy and the animals that give us so much joy and provision. I thank my Lord that he gave me the finances to get a dog and that I was physically able to care for a pet. I thank him for Snoopy living eleven years right next to me. As I pray, I admit to my Lord that I’ll have to shed some tears, but no matter what, I am thankful.

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind?”

Job 12:7-10 NKJV