Completion, Not Loss

Some goodbyes are harder than others. I went through one of my hardest a few years ago. 

We got our puppy Beau when our children were young and he grew up with them. My hunch is dogs must be one of God’s favorite creations. Even after the fall in Eden, dogs retained their faithful, loving, and joyous presence. At fifteen, Beau suffered a mini-stroke. He was only expected to live a few days after that, but miraculously, he had mostly good days for the next three months. He loved taking daily walks but when he lost his stamina, I bought him a wagon. When his legs grew tired, he could ride the rest of the way.

During this season, I began to lose heart as Beau grew weaker. “God,” I sighed, “this feels like such loss.” As I voiced the word “loss,” God spoke these words to my heart…

“Completion. Not loss. I created Beau with purpose. And this chapter is nearing completion.” 

When the day came for us to say bye, we held to those words from God. Beau’s story isn’t over. Just this chapter. God promises to make all things new. Not just us, but all creation. Death never gets the last word. This wasn't the end for our furry friend...but a new beginning that includes an eventual reunion. Knowing that, with tears and a heavy heart, we told Beau bye. But just for now.

Perhaps a chapter is coming to an end in your life—whether for a project, a parent, a family dynamic, or a pet. This time of coming loss or current grief is undoubtedly hard. But what if it also signifies an intentional completion of something deeply important that will continue in ways you can’t yet fathom? 

In the pain, take your questions to God and take your refuge in his presence. He will see you through.This reading was crafted to encourage your pursuit of story and creativity with God. Your donation makes this crowd-funded initiative possible. You can support it via PAYPAL (or by check to Allen Arnold at PO Box 62841, Colorado Springs, CO 80962).

Want More?
Order your copy of The Story of Withtoday