Life's Cycle

Life is just a cycle, isn't it? Isaiah 40 says "All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever."

My 14 yr. old daughter had to experience this life cycle. She got Koda, on her 14th birthday, a pug, just what she has wanted, since, well.....in teen terms "4-ever"! We were all so happy and enjoyed him so much. But, Koda was sick. He had so many health issues. We really didn't see just how ill he was. But with patient, loving care, Kaylea cared for Koda, with all of his health problems. At 6 mons., the vet suggested putting him down. His little body kept failing him. He had no immunity, and everything seemed to attack his little black body on the outside, as well as the inside. It was the hardest thing we've had to do. You don't know what pain is until you have to watch your child hurt and know there isn't a thing you can do...............you would give anything to bear that burden for your child! We laid 'Kaylea's Koda Bear' to rest on October 8, 2008.

Though we could never replace Koda in our hearts, we knew we had to fill the void that was left. God helped me find a kennel close by that just happened to have 4 boy pugs left, and they were 8 weeks old! We were out for Fall Break so the girls and I loaded up and took a trip. I couldn't help but notice all of God's beauty around us! The colors of the leaves, the crisp clean air, the brightness of the sun with it's warmth, the blueness of the sky........it all engulfed us in the car, and to top it off, Casting Crowns was singing, "Tell me how far the east is from the west...." It couldn't have been a better morning! While we were saddened over the loss of Koda, we couldn't help but feel a renewed spirit rising up in us.

I discussed with Kaylea that we didn't 'lose' Koda, but were privileged to have him for the 6 months of his life. He taught us love and understanding, how to love something no matter their weaknesses, faults, illnesses. I told her that God chose Kaylea to get the privilege of caring for Koda. You see, most would have gotten rid of him immediately, they wouldn't have gone to all the trouble she did to care for him. He DEFINITELY knew what being loved was! God knew that Koda would find the love and compassion he would need on his short journey of life, and he knew that Kaylea would give that to Koda, and learn what loving at any cost would really mean. When we went to pick Koda, he came to her, she was drawn to him at 3 weeks old, and the day he turned 6 weeks old she brought him home.

Now God has stretched out her heart and given her another to love. His name is 'Kaylea's Reign Bo'..............we call him Bo. He is a fawn pug. And rest assured, he was picked out with that loving eye and patient hand of Kaylea's. We brought him home on October 9, 2008. He has touched our lives already, and is already part of the family! Ironically, he came to us on what would have been my dad's 84th birthday. Dad passed away 8 1/2 yrs ago.

Life's cycle. We are here today, and gone tomorrow. We better make our life count............and the only way to do that is through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord! Some may say, it's just a dog.................and that's true, but they are God's creation, they bring joy and love into your life. I thank God that our life cycle, only truly begins when we kneel at the foot of that Old Rugged Cross and give our lives to Him, because then we receive ETERNAL life!