What I Learned About Love and Loss From My Dog Jesse

“Over the years, my wife and I have had many pets. We are always sad when they die. I sometimes wonder, however, if God isn’t using them to remind us of our own deaths.” ~ Billy Graham

I have a confession to make, and I apologize in advance. I used to think people that grieved over the death of their dogs were…shallow. I’m really sorry, but I’m just being honest with you.

That was ten years ago, though, before Jesse.

In 2005 we purchased a beautiful Golden Retriever that we named Jesse. Jesse changed my family and me forever. A few weeks ago, however, our sweet, precious Jesse lost his battle with cancer (he had a tumor in his abdomen) and left us heartbroken.

Through the loss of our dog, I learned some valuable lessons about love and loss.

Nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of the grief I felt in the days and weeks after Jesse died. I mourned his absence deeply.

Eventually I found comfort as I realized that Jesse was much more than “just a dog.” He was my constant companion and friend. He was an excellent listener, and because of his servant’s heart, he loved me faithfully and unconditionally. Moreover, Jesse gave me a sense of security as my protector.

Not only did my dog love me, but I loved him too. We shared a special bond. We had a relationship. 

He came, loved, and left a lasting impact on our lives. The lessons I learned about life through the love and loss of my sweet dog Jesse can be applied to our human relationships too.

1. When you love deeply, you will grieve deeply.

Grief can sometimes feel intimidating, as if it’s a sign of weakness or a lack of faith. This is not true. We grieve because we love. The deeper your love for someone, the deeper your grief.

It’s okay to be sad for a period of time. Allow yourself the time you need to mourn.

[For those of you reading this that may be grieving over the loss of a friend or family member, please don’t misunderstand me. I am not comparing grief that we have for losing a dog to the that of losing a loved one. There are some similarities in the grieving process, but it is definitely not the same.]

2. Every minute is a gift from God.

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about the different seasons that we go through in life. In verse 2 we are reminded that there is “A time to be born and a time to die.”  

Since death is clearly a part of life, never take yours or the lives of others, for granted.

Get in the habit of treating the special people in your life as if it were their (or your) last day. You may be having the very last conversation, meal or picture with your loved one.

Learn to be intentional about making your relationships with others a priority by enjoying every moment with them.

3. Make Jesus your best friend.

After Jesse passed away, I pondered why I was missing this soft, four legged animal so intensely. I then realized that there were some similar characteristics between my relationship with him and with God.

For example, Jesse didn’t talk, but he communicated to me through his body language.

It occurred to me that although we don’t hear God’s audible voice, He still communicates to us.

Another thing I miss about Jesse is the sense of security I felt with him around. And as I thought about it, I realized that truly God alone is our security. He has told us that He commands His Angels to protect us (Psalm 91:11).

One more observation about my love for my dog is that I felt his unconditional love through his faithfulness. Jesse, like most dogs, was extremely loyal and he loved us unconditionally. Isn’t this just like Jesus? He shows us His love through His faithfulness.

Maybe, just maybe, God wants us to learn to love Him as comfortably as we love our dogs.

It’s a challenging thought for sure because you may argue that you can feel, touch, and play with your pet. But isn’t it true that sometimes it’s easier to be faithful to your dog than to your savior? 

The truth is Jesus ought to be your best friend. He’s the one that’s always with you and will never forsake you. He is faithful and will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one (Hebrews 13:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:3).

I do believe, however, that our pets go to heaven. There is enough Scripture to point to the fact that God created and loves animals. It has helped me to imagine my beautiful dog, Jesse, running around, healthy and full of joy, enjoying the presence of his Creator. I look forward to the day we are reunited again. If you aren’t sure of your eternal destiny, please be sure by making your commitment to Christ.

We miss you Jesse, but you will live in our hearts until we meet again. ♥

How about you? Have you ever lost a pet you loved? I’d love to hear what you learned from this type of loss.

“For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:19-21