Last Sunday was a tough day in our house.  It started out okay, pancakes and sunshine and we were planning to go for a hike after church.   As part of our normal routine our dogs went out, came in and settled down for their mid-morning nap.  I guess I never will understand the expression “working like a dog”.   In fact, I have often thought that if dogs could only read, it looks like a great deal to me.

We were busy cleaning up when we noticed something was missing.  It was quiet, too quiet.  Our dog, Thunder has provided us with a steady rattle and hum for years.  Her snoring suits her name although that’s not how she got it.  Her first name was Kailua, after a favorite place in Hawaii, but we quickly nicknamed her Thunder.  As a pup she would race from one end of the house to the other and anyone who knows about Great Danes will agree that it sounds a lot like rolling thunder.  That’s how Thunder got her name, and she lived up to it all her life.

When we realized that Thunder was silent we sent our kids upstairs and tried to revive her but it was no use.  Thunder was silent and we were heartbroken.  Telling the kids was awful but we made it through.  Unfortunately we have enough experience with loss to understand that it is excruciating at first and that it will ease to a dull ache over time, hopefully.

Step by step and it will ease.  One of the greatest blessings in this is the kindness of our friends and neighbors.  A Great Dane is hard to miss and our dog’s passing has not gone unnoticed.  From flowers to cheer us up, to a delicious lentil casserole to warm us up, we have been supported and lifted up by those around us.  One dear friend even encouraged us bring home another dog someday.  So kind.

There’s a lot we can do to make this kind of loss easier on our kids.  Using our tips to talk to kids in a crisis helps a lot.  Holding onto them and letting them experience the loss in their own ways.  Crying is okay, drawing a picture or talking with friends.  All of these are good signs.  Also remembering the good times shared is key.

Dr. Seuss said “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”   I love that.  Truly gratitude is always the best attitude.  Another friend suggested making a planter from Thunder’s water bowl, using her leash as a border for a collage and suspending the collage with a wire like sculpture growing out of the planter.  I love this idea because I think it really represents growing through a sad time and that’s the lesson in this for all of us.

Thunder was a treasured part of our family and always will be.  It is so like her that even in death she is still teaching us about life and unconditional love.  Thunder’s passing brought our friends and neighbors around us to encircle us in their caring and love and we will honor her memory by passing that love forward to our friends, family and someday, maybe even to a new four-legged furball.

So thank you Thunder for everything, including reminding us to keep facing the sun even in the midst of a storm.

Marilynn

Categories: General

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