The picture is of my dog, Sadie. I had to put her to sleep last week. She was over 11 years old. Up until recently she was very healthy and then all of the sudden went down hill fast. I used to say, part jokingly and part serious, that my animals have a $50.00 a year limit. Anything beyond that and they are "out of here." I found that was not as easy to say when it meant life or death to my dog that has been a part of our family for almost 11 of her years. But after spending a few hundred dollars with the prognosis looking like it would end up being several thousand dollars with no guarantee of good health, we couldn't afford to make those kinds of commitments.

I thought I was going to be tough through all of this. But when the Vet. actually gave her the shot, I cried like a baby. It was really hard. One person asked Rhonda and I if we had prayed prayers for Sadie to be received in heaven. I know that some people believe they will see their animals in heaven. There are indications that there will be animals in heaven (Isaiah 11) but I don't think they will be the animals that we have had on earth while we are living.

It's amazing how attached we get to animals. We almost treat them as our own kids sometimes. We probably get a little carried away sometimes. But I do thank God for animals that He has given us to enjoy life with. His creation is so amazing. I miss Sadie. But I'm thankful that God created animals that we could see His handiwork in and enjoy the companionship that they give.



Jeff