For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Annie was a scruffy mixed breed that I rescued during a thunderstorm 16 years ago.
On December 29, 2022, she went outside for her “evening break” and did not return. The following morning, our neighbor found her in their lake.
You can imagine (or relate to) the heartache of losing a beloved pet after 16 years.
Annie had gone out every evening and had been near that lake hundreds of times over the years. How could this have happened? The sudden loss was a harsh blow to my heart… there was no “time” to prepare. The “time” was just there… suddenly.
There are many different kinds of dogs with many purposes. There are watchdogs, police dogs, service dogs, courageous dogs, smart dogs, show dogs and the list goes on.
Annie was none of those. She was a timid and tender dog. She trembled during storms, she never alerted us with barking when a stranger came on to our property. She actually went up to any stranger laid down at their feet and rolled over in submission with all four paws up.
There’s no real accolades to mention unless you consider being a super shedder a desired title.
She did get nearly perfect attendance at our son’s elementary school one year. She would hear the kids across the field at recess and wander down to the playground to visit while we were at work.
So what was so special about Annie?
She was there…. always there. If I went for a walk, she was there. If we took
off for a horse ride, she was there. If we were eating dinner in the kitchen or reading a book on the sofa, she was there. It didn’t matter the time or season… she stuck with her people.
The memories are so active in my mind.
We went from house training a puppy to changing diapers for a senior dog. Day after day she was with us…. until she wasn’t.
As i processed through my heartache, The Lord brought me to a passage of scripture. He tenderly made His presence known. I felt His comfort. He was there.
As you read the verses, keep one thought before you: God is not bound by time. He is there eternally.
Gaze on Him in your current time/season and encounter His goodness.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV