My first post on the blog isn't really what I thought it would be. I thought I'd post something spiritual and inspiring, but the truth is it just hasn't been that kind of day. I had to take our dog Duke to be put to sleep today. He was around thirteen years old; we got him in the spring of 1995. The last year he had really been going downhill; arthritis, hearing loss, eyes clouding up, and losing his hair. He was really starting to suffer some. So, it was the right thing to do - but not easy. I'm not really a pet person, but Duke had been around longer than our two youngest daughters. It was hard to see him go.
But, as with all things in life, God provides grace and learning opportunities. I was reminded again that life never stays the same. Change is inevitable. All things in this life are temporary. While I'll look back with fond memories, I won't linger too long. Life is too short to always be looking backwards. God always has new and wonderful things in store for us in the future. There will never be another Duke, but there will be other pets and other fun times. And there will always be change. I can either resist it and be miserable, or I can embrace it, grow and go forward. That's the choice I make. And I can do it joyfully (Philippians 3:1).
