EncourageYou!

This weekend one of our fish, Gideon, a male Betta, lost his battle with parasites and fin rot. He was 1. He is survived by Nellie, another male Betta, Goldie the goldfish, Peter and Digory the parakeets, and Abbey the Cat. His is also survived by the boy who took care of him, Ryan. He will be missed. But not replaced.

As many of us know, pets are one way to teach children responsibility, care, and upkeep of another living being. Also, even though Gideon was with us only a short while, he, as pets also do, taught about living and dying.

In a media age where death is trivialized by its constant showing on TV, death is still as final as it is certain. The Betta, along with the nine other fish who have passed on in the past 15 months, are gone for good.

Are we gone for good when we people come to the end of this life? Consider these promises from God:

• ...according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in whcih righteousness dwells. - 2 Peter 3:13
• In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. - John 14:2-3
• Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who believes in me shall never die... - John 11:25-26

Fortunately, we are different from our fish, our pets, and other animals. If we trust in the promises of God as spoken to us by his son Jesus and written for us in his Bible, we may be missed for a while, but our bodies will be replaced with new ones someday and we will dwell with God, and each other, forever. That lesson is more exciting and encouraging than anything our pets can teach us.