Goodbye, our Olive

This afternoon, while Max and his friend Kyler were playing in the backyard, Olive was found near death in her cage. She was laboring to breath and completely weak. They ran in to get me. I picked up her limp body, stroked her fur, hoping, maybe, I could bring her back. Her eyes were glazed over and she was taking big breaths, infrequently. We took her inside, wrapped her in a towel to warm her up, and I put some water in a dropper. I don't know what she was dying of, but, I thought water might help. I quickly ascertained that Olive was not going to make it. Max and his friend were beside themselves with sorrow. Max has never experienced losing a pet like Olive. Both boys had big tears and were bewildered at their emotions. We all took turns holding little Olive, wrapped in the towel. We assured her that she was loved. I assured the boys that she had held on this long because she didn't want to leave us...and I was certain she was now happy to be in our arms at the end of her life. They seemed comforted with that, though, still sad. When she died we placed her in one of Lilly's tiny shoe boxes. We tied a pink ribbon around the box. Dad took her outside. Max came back inside to tell me something. "Well, I know God knows Olive died. There is a rainbow outside." That gave him a small smile. With a big gulp in his throat and a tear in his eye, he said, "I really hope I see Olive when I die." Kyler turned to him, and with a tear in his own eye, said, "Yea. But that's not for 4 more years." I smiled. These boys are still so young and their little minds can't quite understand what they have just experienced. But, it was sweet to see them crying together and comforting each other so well.

Before all of this happened I was hustling about, trying to get dinner ready before I had a church meeting. When this happened everything came to a halt. The house got still and we just held dear Olive with tears in our eyes. Nothing else mattered. It was a good reminder of what is really important but so easy to overlook in the daily obligations. Stop. Be still. Make sure those you love know they are loved.