Madre's Missives

Inadvertent and Occasionally Intentional Thoughts

Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 09th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

He was a lovely lizard who gave our youth room that certain "je ne sais quois." Fernando survived some tough times, but he was always quick on the draw, nabbing those albino crickets he was fed. Shelby will miss him most, no doubt. He became a member of her family and thrived (i.e., got fat with all the crickets he could eat) under her watchful care. We should all be grateful for the opportunity we had to know one of these smallest of God's creatures and to have him (her?) as part of our lives for the past year and a half.

Blessed are those who die in the aquarium...or something like that...

Rest in peace, Fernando.

Edited on: January 09th, 2008 6:28 pm

Comments:

Re: Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 09th, 2008 at 11:49 pm by luvable lutheran
so do all dogs, errr I mean lizards, goto heaven?

Re: Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 10th, 2008 at 2:15 am by Sandra Ostapowich
As far as my 5 yr old son is concerned right now, yes. I had to find a way to comfort the poor kid from his heart-wrenching, tear-filled sobs so I could go into a meeting tonight. Blogger Smiley

We'll discuss it further at a more appropriate time.

Re: Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 10th, 2008 at 11:08 am by luvable lutheran
Half teasing, half serious. I'd be interested in what you tell children and adults for that matter about their loved pets that die. It seems that folks frequently tell themselves and their children that Fido is in heaven. However, is that truly the case? On the bright side, dealing with the death of a pet in a healthy way does prepare them for later in life when they have to deal with the death of people.

My 5 year old niece recently lost their dog suddenly. His ashes sit on top of the entertainment center until the ground thaws in the spring. Recently they purchased another puppy.

Re: Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 11th, 2008 at 10:00 am by sarahlaughs
Pets in heaven?

This is a question that has often been asked by the younger members of my family (including myself).

Certain passages of Scripture seem to me to indicate that there will be animals in heaven.
Isaiah 65:25, 11: 6-9,

The question then is whether they will be the same animals that are/have been/will be on earth. I have seen no indication one way or another on this.(I'll admit I haven't searched very hard either. Blogger Smiley

)

What we do know for sure is that God loves and cares for the creatures he has made.
Psalm147:9, 145:13,Matt 10:29, etc

So the way I've come to look at it is; really the pets we have aren't our animals. We didn't make them. God made them and gave them to us to take care of. We do what he has given us to do. The lifespan of an animal is in God's hand just as our life is. We should probably trust him to take care of his own creatures. We ultimately aren't responsible for determining where animals go when they die or if they "go" anywhere. We should trust that whatever God's plan for animals may be, He executes it in love for his creatures.

[disclaimer: if this is gross heresy of any species, Please alert me and I will retract. Blogger Smiley

]

Re: Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 11th, 2008 at 12:06 pm by luvable lutheran
Thanks for the Scripture citations. I've heard that Scripture doesn't say if pets are in heaven. Perhaps it is more accurate to say they don't have souls similar to humans and Scripture doesn't apply to their souls, only human souls. I was hoping that Pastors or those with animal vocations could clarify as it seems like a good catechetical moment :)

What you say makes sense in that in paradise, God will provide the best. He also does command of Adam and Eve to be over the animals and earth and to care for them.

Re: Fernando is dead.

Posted On: January 11th, 2008 at 11:59 pm by Pr. Hein
The term "Fernando Chili" will take on a whole knew meaning. According to the KJV, "Sir, he hath been dead already three days, and by now his body stinketh." The Mount Olive Youth room will never be the same.