Loss

Loss comes in many forms and usually makes an arrival in our lives at the most unwelcome times. Carl understands what it is like to feel the loss of something. When he was less than six months old, he lost his manhood. Only two weeks later, he also lost his tail.

Carl had what is known as a screw tail. It is when the tail will not move but is literally stuck. So when he would go out to do his business, it would stay in place causing all kinds of problems. The surgery was much more extensive than we thought. The tail is an extension of the spinal cord and what we thought would be a simple procedure ended up being extremely painful for our little dog.

For months, Carl would not allow anyone to come close to his backend. If we even looked like we were going to pet him near his rear, he would growl at us. This caused everyone to be on high alert when we were around our pooch.

Carl’s personality also changed after this surgery from being a calm and carefree puppy to becoming insecure and on guard. Even after two years, he is still very needy. Loss can do that to all of us.

Most of us have experienced some form of loss.  Many have lost a family member or a friend that rips at our heart. These are the times that we question God’s character and wonder if He is good and loving.

Thankfully, we have scriptures that help us to understand God more in the depths of our pain. In John 11:5, the Bible tells us that Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary and Lazarus. So why did He stay away from them when he knew that Lazarus would die before he returned?

Even though Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, He entered into their pain. The shortest verse in the Bible screams out how much God loves us. In John 11:35, it states, “Jesus wept.” It doesn’t say that he brushed away a tear or two but that he openly cried.

So why does God allow our hearts to be pierced by the pain when we experience loss? Is there something in this story of Jesus weeping with these women that could help us? Could it possibly be that in the pain is where we will encounter our loving God?

As I was getting ready to post this blog, I couldn’t locate the work that I had done several days earlier. It appears that God wanted me to feel some form of loss before I published this blog. As for Carl, his loss will have a lifetime effect. He will never be able to wag his tail to show us when he is happy or sad. But even so, my little tailless bully will never know how much his loss has drawn others close to God.