31 May 2009
Death, Loss and the Hard Questions
Posted by BaBa under: Daily Life; Observations .
We have had one of the hard talks with Sheridan and it happened riding in the van. YeYe’s dog is old and has lost his sight along with his sense of smell. Sheridan said that Barkley was dead. We told him that no, he was not dead. YeYe and Nana are coming to the conclusion that Barkley may have to be put down. It is not an easy decision, but his quality of life has drastically dropped and he is also beginning not to eat as well as no longer leaving the garage.
Sheridan said that Barkley would go to God. What a great concept for him to already grasp. He then asked if he would hurt anymore then. We said no, God would make him all better. Here is where the leap took place. He began talking about Rainbow and would she go to God. We told him that Rainbow would go to God, but not for several years. You could tell that he was concerned and sad by the catch in his voice as he talked about her. I told her that we would all be very sad when that day came.
It was the first of those difficult conversations you have with your children about life’s harder concepts. I know that more will follow and these will be sooner rather than later. I pray for the wisdom to have the answers in the right form to his questions. I am also a little sad what marks the beginning of the end of his innocence about the hard realities of life.
