My family adores dogs. In our pack, I am Honey’s human. She shadows me everywhere and never leaves my side. Honey loves car rides, the beach, and even the hot tub. Though she’s only 4 years old, I dread the day she won’t be around. Over the past 30 years, I’ve had to say goodbye to many of our furry friends. It may sound odd to non-dog lovers, but sometimes it’s harder than grieving a human.
Every Saturday morning, I set aside time to pay the weekly bills. Yesterday, as I sat down, I noticed an ambulance in my neighbor Ralph’s driveway. Ralph, in his late 80s, lives with his dog, Rocky. He lost his wife about 10 years ago and has two adult children who visit him on weekends. Since my family moved across the street from Ralph in 2017, we’ve kept an eye on each other. When we’re away, Ralph and Rocky look after our pack, including our pet pig, Ruben. And when Ralph needs anything, he knows we’re here for him.
Seeing the ambulance, I was immediately concerned. I walked over and saw the paramedic tending to Ralph. Rocky was nowhere in sight, which was unusual since he was always by Ralph’s side. My concern for Ralph quickly extended to Rocky. I knew Rocky had untreatable cancer and his days were numbered. Every morning at 6 am, Ralph took Rocky for a car ride because Rocky loved it. They did this every day since we moved in. Initially, I thought Ralph was just getting a newspaper and coffee. When I finally asked, and he told me the reason, my heart warmed because I understood that kind of love. It’s the love I’ve felt for every dog my family has ever had.
I asked the paramedic about Ralph, who complained of feeling lightheaded and dizzy. They were concerned he might be having a stroke, so they planned to take him to the local ER. I then asked about Rocky, and the paramedic said there wasn’t a dog in the house. My heart sank, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Ralph was having a panic attack because his longtime companion was no longer around. I’ve been there.
Loneliness is a reality that will touch most lives at some point. Humans were never meant to live in isolation. However, for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, we are never truly alone because God has given us an unfailing companion, the Holy Spirit.
God designed us to be complete only when His Spirit dwells within us. We can choose to ignore the Holy Spirit, but such a life will be marked by discontent. Peace will be fleeting, and loneliness will feel like a permanent resident in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is our constant companion, always walking beside us. If we keep Him at a distance, we also distance ourselves from the Father. However, if we ask the Spirit to guide our steps and open our minds to God’s plans, He will support and encourage us in ways we never imagined.
Ralph is a believer, as am I. He will grieve Rocky for a time, as will I. It’s an acute type of pain because the unconditional love from your best friend is no longer felt. It’s healthy to grieve, and Ralph understands its importance in healing a broken heart. Ralph also knows he has the Holy Spirit as his other companion to continue guiding his steps on Earth until he is reunited with his wife and Rocky in Heaven.
MindWolves 