Saying Goodbye to a Season of Life

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven… He has made everything beautiful in its time." - Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 NKJV

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My husband, Joe, and I have been raising pet ducks for 26 years. When our duck, Larry, died three years ago at the age of 23, our female duck, Libby, was left alone. After much prayer, we decided to keep Libby, and to care for her all the rest of her days.

Recently, we took Libby to see our vet, who found a growth in her abdomen when he examined her. He performed an ultrasound right on the spot, but he still couldn't tell us the nature of the growth. He did tell us, though, that Libby would never survive surgery because she was 14 years old, and well past her breed's typical lifespan.

We prayed for Libby daily, and we gave her the medications our vet prescribed for her. Then, a few weeks later, Libby began having trouble walking, because the growth in her belly had grown. We continued to pray for her healing, and we demonstrated our faith in her recovery by continuing to buy her 40-pound bag of pellets, tons of her bedding, her medications, and everything else we would normally buy for her care. But Libby continued to decline. We lavished her with love and attention, but last Sunday, Joe and I watched her take her last breath. We were heartbroken, especially knowing that our days of raising ducks were over.

We thought of all the sad tasks that were ahead of us to perform - dismantling Libby's house, taking apart the year-round patio enclosure that Joe had built for our ducks, taking down all of the duck pen fencing, and digging out the huge plastic pond in our backyard. Our hearts ache just thinking about it.

I don't know what you believe about our pets being in heaven when we get there, but it always comforts me to remember Billy Graham saying that he fully expected to see his dog in heaven. The other day, I asked the Lord to give me a sign that Libby was in His presence now. As I turned and looked at a corner of my kitchen, I saw a miniature Jesus figure with a tiny duck figure next to it. My grandson, William, had given them to me some weeks ago. Now they have new meaning for me, and they give me great comfort. Today, I am holding fast to God's precious promise, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning…" (Psalm 30:5 NKJV)

Prayer: Lord, please heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds, according to Your Word. (Psalm 147:8) Help me to see the good in all my pain and sorrow. (Romans 8:28) Remind me that no matter what happens, I still have a lot to be grateful for. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Thank You that as I look to You for relief and recovery, You will turn my mourning into gladness, and give me comfort and joy instead of sorrow! (Jeremiah 31:13)

- J. M. Farro

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