Maggie

While in Tennessee for one of our annual mission trip to God’s Mountain, Maggie had an appointment with the vet which then led to a biopsy. She had started limping after jumping from the golf cart and then Randy found a lump at her shoulder. The vet said he was sure she had cancer and had about four to six months left. It was sad leaving for home knowing that next year Maggie wouldn’t be there.

 

After a few months I received word from Randy that Maggie had bone cancer and she only had two to three weeks. My heart was heavy.

It hurts when we lose our beloved pets. They leave a big whole in our heart when they are gone. Some of my friends will never get another dog or cat because the pain is so great. I can’t imagine not knowing the joy that my dogs have brought me over the years. Over time, as I grieve for my loss, that huge whole fills up with their memories. I’m one of those people who believe that I will see them again.

After my first trip to God’s Mountain I wrote the following in my journal.

‘A week ago I saw a resemblance of faith to move. I had taken a picture the morning we left God’s Mountain. It’s not a very impressive photo. In fact it’s really bad and even if you looked at it very closely you may not be able to see what I intended to capture. Randy had just given Brenda a ride up the mountain to the church bus in the golf cart. Half way up the path in the photo is a small spot. Actually it’s two dogs. One is Maggie, a Labrador retriever, and the other is Lady, a Golden retriever. Whenever Randy went anywhere in the camp, Maggie would follow. She was faithful to get up and move and go wherever her master went. Just a reminder from a couple of Tennessee mountain dogs……no matter what, wherever my Master goes, I need to follow.’

 

Maggie was still trying to follow Randy, even though it was difficult for her to do so.  Dogs can teach us volumes about love and devotion.