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Love and Loss

Dear Friends,

Recently we celebrated our love for
our pets with a pet blessing service
at Wareham. Pets are described as
'chattels' in English Law, but pet
owners know better. John and I still
miss the four dogs and two cats we have had over the last thirty
years. A beloved pet is part of the family and, when we lose them,
our grief can be just as real as though they were a close relative.

All of us will lose someone we love, a parent, relative, friend, pet,
over the course of our lives. But with love comes the realisation of
loss. In Shakespeare's sonnets, the poet tries to immortalise his
beloved in poetry. We might do something similar with photographs
or mementos.

We can understand, to some extent, the grief of the disciples after
Jesus' death. With them there was also fear that the authorities
would persecute them. So there was joy, and some disbelief, when
Jesus, resurrected from the dead, appeared to them. But Jesus
gave more than a promise of life everlasting to his followers, he
said that he would be with them always. He would not leave them
alone but send his spirit to help. Therefore we have all the drama of
Pentecost when the disciples are filled with the gifts of the spirit.

The disciples, now apostles, are now able to fulfil Jesus' great
mission to spread the Good News throughout the world, and to
baptise people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit.

Not only is Jesus with us now, but we look forward to a life with him
for ever. I do hope there is a place in heaven for animals as well.

Every blessing
Janet

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