Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Sadness

Today was a very hard, sad day in our home. Early this morning, when it was still dark, two of our dogs, Sandy and Maggie, were killed on the road in front of our house. They were hit by a vehicle. We did not see or hear it happen. Adam took them to the pasture early for their first visit outside. He came inside for a few minutes, but when he went back outside, they were not in the pasture. He hunted till he found them. They were already dead. We do not know what drew them both so far, and into the road. He buried them beside each other near the fence where the passion fruit grows, between the orchard and the barn.
darling Sandy
Sandy loved living on the farm, sleeping in the sun in the pasture.
Sandy and Beau were such good pals.
Sandy would have been seven years old this summer. We got her when our old Sheltie Lacey was an elderly dog. Sandy achieved the status of "Best Dog" -- a term Adam uses to describe a dog that has become the very BEST she can become. Sandy was that. Wonderfully obedient, sweet through and through, so happy. I miss her very much. She was a good friend.
When Maggie Moo came to us the dogs became a true pack, a real herd, and their greatest joy each day was when Adam would say each morning, "Do any dogs want to go to work?!" They would run for the back door. All three would charge through the pasture gate. Sandy and Maggie would engage in bark wars over a stick. There was nothing so hopeful in this world as Sandy's face, hovered over a stick, longing for you to throw it.
truck dogs
 I don't have as many photos of Maggie because we haven't had her as long. She was only five months old, but already bigger than Sandy. She was happy, rambunctious, goofy, wallowing, affectionate. She would lie down on the kitchen floor with her food bowl between her paws and eat. We often just called her Moo.
In the evenings, the three amigos snoozed in the living room just like this:
We still have Beau, and we are so, so thankful for that. I think it would have crushed Adam utterly to lose Beau also. It has been truly horrible to lose two dogs so suddenly, so brutally, in one day.
Beau is lonely without Sandy. I'm sure we will get more dogs at some later date. As Adam says -- you don't replace a dog, but you can make new friends. Sandy and Maggie, we love and miss you. Did you know that in the Bible, the word for "living soul" that applies to humans is also used in Genesis to describe animals as well? We hope to see our dear dog friends again on God's new earth, where all things are made new, where all of His creation is redeemed. That will be a happy day.

17 comments:

Pom Pom said...

I am SO sorry for your loss. I'm so sad. Praying for your family.

hkrobinson said...

MK - We are so sorry. Love, Anne et al

Sarah said...

oh, oh, oh. This is very sad. I am thinking of you guys - during this shock. Prayers.

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

This is so sad. I am sorry for your loss. Be sure and give little Beau some extra hugs, and each other, too.

gretchenjoanna said...

Oh, no!! This is dreadful news....so sorry.

Angela said...

Very sorry to read this. God bless and comfort you x

Una said...

I'm very sorry to hear this dreadful news. They are a sad loss, but you gave them happy lives while they were with you.

Ashley cramp said...

Oh no that is so heart rending, I am so so sorry for your loss. two in one day is terrible. At least they will be together forever,
sending much love to you both at this sad time....

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Oh dear MK and Adam ~ I am so sorry for this double loss. It makes my heart ache for you. They are with God, you WILL see them again one day.

No words can make this loss easier to bear, but you are in my prayers ~ Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

Unknown said...

Oh Mary Kathryn, I am so sad for all of you. You are such loving and caring people toward your beloved pets. I grieve with you over this terrible and shocking loss. May the Lord comfort your hearts now.

Lisa Richards said...

I'm so sorry and sad at this news. We live in such a broken world, but I agree with your idea that we'll see them again in heaven. I don't think God would give us such affection for a creature otherwise. Love and hugs to you all.

happyone said...

Oh that is so sad and I am so sorry for you all. I know that our dogs are like family members. At least the lived happy lives with you on the farm.

Carolyn said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how you loved them.

Deborah Montgomery said...

Oh M.K., I am so sorry. What a terrible loss for you and your husband. Just awful. How sweet and companionable those dogs look.
I will keep you in my prayers. Love, Deborah

Gumbo Lily said...

Oh, I'm so sorry you've lost such good friends. It's hard.

Mary Ann Potter said...

I am so very sorry, dear M.K. I must share two powerful testimonies with you this morning about our animals who get to heaven before we do. The first concerns our be"loved bloodhound Burgess, who has been up there since 2006. On a Sunday morning a few years ago, during praise and worship, I had a heavenly vision of that dog; he walked into some sort of "auditorium" and put his head on a man's lap. The man stroked Burgess' beautiful, droopy ears and said, "Well, hello, Burgess." Wow. The second testimony concerns Archie, our beloved rottweiler mix. The day we had to say goodbye, I had another heavenly vision; Archie was jumping around the feet of Jesus (yes, really!). Jesus spoke to me these words, "Mary Ann, you should see him running up here." I know that I know that I know (ad infinitum!) that in the perfect heaven and in God's perfect will that our critters go. They wait anxiously for us, I'm sure. In the meantime they have more fun than we can imagine. I love you and are praying for you ----- and I am so grateful to God for His glorious gifts to us.

Ida said...

I read this yesterday but just couldn't bring myself to comment then as I was already having a very bad day and this news was just so sad. - I am so very sorry that this horrible thing happened and you lost two very sweet friends. I hope and pray that whoever did this will realize just what a terrible thing they have done. I also know you will miss both of your dogs very much and someday you'll open your home and hearts to another sweet animal. Sending you all big hugs.