Mia…

Mia…3-22-25

The only "pets" my husband and I have are cattle. Our mini-Schnauzer passed away in March about three years ago at 16 years old. Our outside dog, a mixed breed and Wal-Mart rescue that was obtained at my youngest son's begging his dad, and I passed, away four years ago at 21 years old. Our cat lived 22 years, the last four of her life with our youngest son due to my asthma. My husband and I decided not to get another "pet" until I retired. He had become quite attached to our mini the last few years of her life as she went everywhere with us, even riding the tractor as we did hay, checked cows, and brush hogged. She was our sidekick. A neighbor's barn cat adopted us about a year and a half ago. He would come and go and wouldn't have anything to do with us until our grandson was determined and spent hours outside coaxing him until the cat relented and they were friends. He went back to his home many many months ago. I got out of the car after a late day at school (9:00 p.m. home arrival) and the cat meowed. I meowed and the cat did again. I thought it was our adopted barn cat back to visit. We had not seen him in over six months. But this was a cat I had never seen before. She was black with white over a lot of her body. She was very friendly. I opened the door and went inside to call my husband. He came to the door. I opened the door, and he immediately said "Well come on in somebody's kitty." The cat meowed, strolled through the back door, walked down the hall, meandered through the kitchen, and my husband opened the front door. The cat meowed as she went, walked through the front door, and went back to her home. We haven't seen her since. We do miss pets being around, but we understand the need to make sure we give animals the time they deserve.

This past week our friends asked us to watch their granddog, Mia, while they were out of town for the weekend. I picked her up at their house after work. She quickly followed me to get her food and then outside. She waited patiently as I opened the car door and climbed in. She made herself at home in the front seat. She was ready. I thought I was. She is a character. As I was lying in bed last night, she was snuggled by my husband. I thought of the years our mini had snuggled by my husband and then myself. Throughout the night Mia moved over and snuggled by me. I have often wondered about animals in Heaven. I voiced this question once and was quickly told by one individual that there wouldn't be any animals in Heaven. Hmm.

My nightly reading is now in Isaiah. Isaiah 11:6-9 describes a Heaven with animals of all kinds. "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." There is my WOW moment. I can picture an image in my mind of all these wild and tame animals with a little child frolicking, the animals playing, eating, and coexisting in Heaven.

My pastor had a black lab. He is the father of my grandson's lab, Joseph. My pastor's lab died last year. He often talks about knowing that his buddy will be waiting for him in Heaven. I believe this, as I believe mine will be waiting for me. God loves all creatures. God made all creatures. He cares for the sparrows. Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Psalm 84:2, "My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." My DeeDee, Layla, and Pumpkin are just three more comforting thoughts of Heaven.