Death of a Pet

I give myself permission to grieve — the love was real, and the loss is real

I do not dismiss my own grief or accept others dismissing it

I extend extra tenderness to children in the household for whom this may be their first encounter with death

I allow myself and my family to mourn openly rather than rushing past the loss

I bring the grief to God — he made and cares for his creatures

I use this loss as a gentle opportunity to talk about death, love, and heaven with my children

I am grateful for what God gave me in that animal rather than only feeling the absence

I take the grief as an invitation to hold the good things in my life with gratitude rather than assumption

I mark the loss in some small way — it dignifies the relationship and helps with closure

If others minimize my grief, I do not let their response determine what I am allowed to feel