We also woke in the night to our dog, Penny, making an unusual sound. David found that she had gotten stuck with her back legs under our couch and was not able to get out. We don’t know how she got into that position, but David was able to get her out and that seemed to ease her pain. When I got up in the morning I was preparing food for a brunch with our missionary team. I was preparing some foods that she usually loves, so I thought I would give her some of the sausage juices along with rice. Her health has been declining over the past several months, but has significantly worsened over the last few days. She refused the sausage soup, even when I fed her by spoon. I thought maybe I should try chicken broth instead. When she also refused the broth I knew she must not be doing well. Throughout the morning her health continued declining. We went to a Christmas brunch with our missionary team and David called to find a veterinarian who would come to our house to check on her. Later in the afternoon, the vet came and we all agreed that Penny was not going to be able to recover and we wanted to reduce her suffering. We sat with her and said goodbye and then they gave her the medicine to put her to sleep. A couple of our kids dug a place to bury her. We said a few words and then buried our dog. It was a Christmas Eve with lots of loss.
Today I have been thinking about how the heartbreaks like dogs dying and friends having an attempted break-in make us long for eternity where there will be no more pain or sorrow or death. No theft. No loss. No goodbyes. No brokenness. I look forward to that day when all things will be made new.
And this is why Jesus had to come. To restore what was lost and broken. To bring healing and redemption. So that all these effects of the Fall in our world will be washed away. This is what Christmas is really about. Our Lord Jesus entered the world as a baby in order to redeem us.
“O Come, O Come Emanuel, and ransome captive Israel, that Norns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel, has come to Thee O Israel.”
“The thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”
I thought it was so sad to experience loss on Christmas Eve, but what a fitting time to put our hope fully in the only One who can bring true joy and peace to our world and to our hearts. May you also find joy and peace in Christ this Christmas!
