A Tribute to Tipper and Seasons

While overall joyful, this holiday season included a pain my family did not expect: we had to say good-bye to our beloved dog, Tipper.  If you're a dog or pet person, you understand how hard this is.  We had Tipper for 12 and a half years, and he truly was a member of our family.  He was especially a faithful companion to my parents in their now empty-nest years, but we all loved him dearly.  Since Tip was 14 years old, we knew his time was limited but not that his death was quite so imminent.  

It all happened relatively quickly.  Saturday night, Tipper was not his usual self and chose to withdraw rather than join the family dinner party when my aunt and uncle were over.  Sunday afternoon, he began throwing up and continued to do this multiple times throughout the evening.  He was very dehydrated because he couldn't even keep water down.  After a restless night for all of us, my mom and I took Tipper to the vet early Monday morning.  The vet did some blood-work, and we learned that Tipper was in liver failure and also had some other issues.  As hard as it was to see him in that pain, I'm thankful that the answer was clear--we knew we had to let him go.  We called my dad who came and joined us at the vet, and we all said good-bye before the vet put him to sleep.  

So thankful we had one last Christmas with Tipper

As I was thinking about what a blessing Tipper was to our family, I decided that dogs are a way God gives us another glimpse of what unconditional love is.  It's not a perfect analogy of course, and I am not at all comparing my dog to Jesus.  :)  However, I do think we can learn something about love and loyalty from dogs.  Tipper always loved us and always wanted to spend time with us.  Even when he was dying and in immense pain, he managed to practically drag himself upstairs twice that night because he wanted to be near us.  There is something to be said about that kind of faithfulness, and I want to be that kind of friend to the people in my life.

Partly because of Tipper's death and partly because of some other circumstances, I have been thinking a lot about seasons lately.  Sometimes when we are in certain seasons, they seem indefinite so we either long to be out of them (the negative ones) or fail to fully appreciate them (the positive ones).  I really want to be aware of the different seasons God has put in my life right now and savor them.  Life is constantly changing, and sometimes it changes abruptly.  I am continually being reminded that I can't control most of those changes, but I am trying to treasure the "here and now" without holding onto it too tightly.

My dear friend Jennifer shared this song with me a few months ago, and I have been listening to it frequently.  I love how it reminds us to praise the Lord in all seasons because there is grace for today.

"Praise the Lord" by The City Harmonic

Praise the Lord when it comes out easy

Praise the Lord on top of the world
Praise the Lord ‘cause in every moment Jesus Christ is Lord
Even in the middle of the joys of life
There is always grace enough today to
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Won’t you praise the Lord?
Praise the Lord with the world on your shoulders
Praise the Lord when it seems too hard
Praise the Lord ‘cause in every moment Jesus Christ is Lord
Even in the middle of the long, dark night
There is always grace enough today to
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Won’t you praise the Lord?
Praise the Lord if you can sing it at the top of your lungs
Praise the Lord like every moment is a song to be sung
Praise the Lord: though it might take blood, sweat and tears in your eyes
There is grace for today so praise the Lord
There is grace for today so praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
Won’t you praise the Lord?
There is grace for today so praise the Lord