Man's Best Friend

:He was a gentle soul..."

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. That was certainly true of my son-in-law Marshal’s dog. Hayes was Marshal’s first family member as a single young man.

But Hayes was so much more and was a family member to all of us in the ensuing years after Marshal and Kendall married. I used to say Hayes was my first grandchild. A gentle, sweet-souled Boykin spaniel, I loved running my hands through his soft, curly, chocolate-brown fur.

The first time I met Hayes, he ran to me with abandoned joy and excitement with his large puppy feet. His ears flopping and swinging, unsure of his gate, he slid across the kitchen floor bumping into me staring up with adoring eyes. But Hayes was never uncertain of his love.

And he sealed his devotion in all our hearts in return.

"He loved the outdoors like his family..."

Over the years, Hayes became an adored dog of the Fuller family, and with each child’s birth in the marriage, Hayes's heart of love expanded. Whenever I popped by to visit or babysit the grandchildren, Hayes was always certain I was there to see him as much as I was the three grandchildren. He was right, and he knew it with every fiber of his being! Hayes would bark with excitement and rub against me, wiggling with delight. His tail would wag his whole body until he collapsed in pure joy. I loved playing with Hayes and throwing his slobbery ball dozens and dozens of times in the backyard until he wore me out.

His first time at my house and in my backyard, Hayes spotted our large pond. His head jerked up in excitement and he ran wildly leaping into the water with unfettered joy, much to Marshal’s dismay. Later, we would rig a temporary fence around the pond to keep our first “grand” safe!

Hayes was the family’s beloved dog and a gentle gift from God. He was always playing with the Fuller children and cuddling up close, or barking and chasing balls, and diving for river rocks at the family’s river retreat. He barked and leapt with joy at Marshal’s latest fish caught! Hayes seemed like a permanent fixture to all of us. But at 14 years old, his health began to quickly fail and the family had to say their tearful goodbyes.

I cried right along with the Fullers at losing my first grand dog.

"Saying goodbye is never easy..."

But I reminded Marshal and Kendall how much the Creator loves Hayes. I assured them that Jesus was the first to greet him in Heaven. In my mind, I even saw Jesus tossing Hayes’ favorite ball and him running with renewed vigor and energy, whole and pain-free. And next, I pictured Hayes reunited with his beloved friend, Diego, an Australian shepherd who had preceded him in death. And I saw the two of them racing together again. I even pictured family members in Heaven watching over Hayes now.

I’ve pondered how much God loves animals and especially Hayes. The Creator cares deeply. And dogs are indeed like family members and are mankind’s best friend.

Until we meet again…

"He's with his buddy Diego now..."

Beloved:

I understand your loss and I long to comfort you. Animals bring Me great joy like all of My Creation. Trust that one day you will be reunited in a grand reunion of love with family members—even your furry ones!

“God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:25)

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more...” (Revelations 21:4)