"Why would God give us Jimmy and take him so soon?" asked Moose.
He had brought Jimmy home almost two years ago. On Halloween. And the joke was that most kids brought home candy that night, but my child brought home a kitten. Fep who wanted no part of cat ownership let it be known for several days that she was not happy that we now had a cat in the house. But over time, that kitty worked it's way into her heart...and mine...and The Bob's too. We were dog people....but now, we are cat people as well.
Last week Jimmy became suddenly ill. So, ill that the vet told us he may not make it. And Moose asked the question. Why would God take Jimmy? I do realize that this is a pet, and not a person. But he was Moose's fast friend, and he loved him so. And all I could tell Moose is that sometimes we just don't have answers as to why. And the answer, although true, seemed to fall short.
Over the next several days, I remembered a post that I had read by Ann Voskamp. It's a post about spending time with her aging Mom, and she says,
"When you realize that what you have, you will lose — you win real eyes. You win grateful joy. It comes across the water and I turn to face it directly: It’s only when you realize everyone you love will one day leave you— that you really begin to love."
You love your spouse now. But lose your spouse and your heart will ache with love. You love your child, but lose that child, and your heart will be crushed by love. As Ann says, "Envision life without the loveliness of those you love — and you see how much you love."
And I share it with Moose. Not an answer to his question, but hope in his loss. Jimmy had given us so many happy memories, much laughter, much love. And we feel it so deeply now, because of the loss. But the loss, it's all a gift. The loss is what makes you realize how deep the love is. He was satisfied with that answer.
The Lord took Jimmy today. And Jimmy's love, even the love of a cat, we count as a gift.
