Loved and Lost

When the time comes for me to say goodbye to someone or something I love very much, the first thing I think is, "Why should I love so much in the first place if it hurts so much to lose someone/something? Wouldn't life just be easier if I kept myself closed off, keeping people (and things) at a distance so as to not get hurt?"

But then, a familiar line of a song comes drifting in: "What matters most is that we loved at all..."


Today, I got a text from my mom telling me that they were putting our dog, Murphy, down at the vet, and that they would bury him in the backyard. I've spent a good deal of the afternoon in tears, it's true, but I've also chuckled in remembering some really good times we all shared with him (as well as some of the silly things he did). And, even though it hurts to know he's no longer with us, it makes me happy that we have those fun memories together.


It's true - without love, there really would be no purpose in living, no matter how hard things get sometimes. Yes, it's painful, but that's what makes relationships so sweet and so special. No one lives forever (at least not on this earth), so we need to take the opportunity to walk with and grow with those people and things that come into our lives while we can.


So, thank you, Murphy, for the 13+ years you were a part of our lives. We love you...