All Dogs Go to Heaven

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram then you know that most of my posts are dominated by the antics of our dogs.  I often wonder how Adam could have left behind his loving pets from whom he derived so much joy.  I think it is another illustration  of where he was at mentally when he made his decision.  These dogs have been such a comfort to us.  They are incredibly empathetic and I know they miss Adam like we do.  This is actually a picture from Ashley’s room where they spontaneously climbed up on her bed and laid on two items Ashley keeps from Adam’s room.

It may seem strange but I do sense God’s presence through these animals and often consider them a gift from him.  I start to wonder about their ability to be with us  when we pass on to Heaven.  I can’t imagine Heaven being Heaven without my dogs and interestingly enough apparently I am not the only one who has thought about this.  I came upon a chapter in C.S. Lewis’ The Problem of Pain titled Animal Pain where he discusses the possibility of our tame pets achieving immortality through their association with us.  Specifically,he writes” “Supposing as I do that the personality of the tame animal  is largely the gift of man-that their mere sentience is reborn to soulhood in us as our mere soulhood is reborn to spirituality in Christ- I naturally suppose that very few animals in their wild state attain to a self or ego.  But if any of them do, and if it is agreeable to the goodness of God that they should live again, their immortality would also be related to man..”  Much like Lewis I believe our animals are a part of us and that as we were tasked at the beginning as their overseer it will be so again in Heaven.

I take comfort that Adam is with my dogs that preceded him.  Bailey was alive for most of Adam’s life and I am sure she greeted him with a lick when he went to be with our Savior and that they now spend time throwing frisbees and waiting for us. When these two precious dogs and Buddy our other sheltie leave this world they will find Adam eagerly waiting to embrace them.