I recently had a conversation with a friend about his dog. Over the past years, I have heard many interesting and humorous stories and seen pictures of him and his dog Larry. However, this conversation was different. It revealed the final moments of Larry’s life.  If you have never had an animal companion, you might not understand the anguish and heartache of losing such a friend. This was expressed as my friend recalled how Larry came into his life eight years ago, not intending for Larry to be his, but as it normally happens with family pets, Larry soon became my friend’s obligation. However, obligation soon turned into an opportunity. The opportunity for my friend to develop a strong bond with Larry. Through the early morning, noon, and evening walks, cleaning up messes, and everything else that comes with having a pet, the loving bond between a man and his dog grew strong. Larry was a faithful loving companion, through thick and thin.

The last conversation I had with my friend about Larry before this most recent one, he told me that Larry was not doing so well. I think he knew that Larry’s days were coming to an end. 

Larry’s days did come to an end last Sunday night. My friend told me of Lary’s decline and how he heartbrokenly took him to the veterinarian’s clinic. Carried by his master, Larry was laid on a blanket on the floor and given a sedative. As he lay on the floor in the doctor’s office he looked up at my friend with a look of anxiety and fear, as if he knew what was coming. Tenderly my friend touched Larry’s face and said, “It’s ok, I love you” and Larry fell asleep.

My friend told me that he never really thought much of what it would be like to experience Larry’s death. He knew that one day Larry would die but was not expecting the amount of strong emotion it would involve. Since Larry’s death, my friend has made several hard walks without Larry by his side, but with Larry in his heart and on his mind. 

As I thought about that I couldn’t help but think about my friend’s love for his dog, and the tender love and confidence that Larry must have felt hearing his master’s comforting words as he concluded his existence in this world. For Larry, hearing his master’s voice was a common thing; it projected confidence and it was comforting, especially in the end. 

When the tables are turned when you are the man, or the woman awaiting the end of your days on earth, expected or unexpected, will you experience any confidence and comfort from the Master’s voice? Will you hear Jesus say, “It’s ok, I love you.”

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23)