Our female standard poodle’s health plummeted one weekend. She was gone before noon on Monday. Each person and pet draw out different aspects of our personalities. Cosette’s joy over simple activities made every day a party. We not only missed her, but we also missed who we were in her presence.
A week later, Max, our male dog, realized his girl was not coming home. His grief threw him into a health crisis. He fought for his life while connected to IVs. He pulled through but seemed 10 years older.
That Friday, Raleigh received an unexpected snow. My husband came home early. “We need a different spirit in this house. Let’s look at puppies.”
That evening we welcomed a white fluff ball into our home. I called him my joy-boy. However, the next day we noticed a slight limp.
Three vet visits and an X-ray showed what my vet called bone OCD in his right shoulder. Two vets said surgery should heal him; two others recommended exchanging him for a healthy puppy. It could signal future problems.
The coronavirus quarantine began, and our economy plummeted. It didn’t seem wise to venture into a medical journey with unknown costs. We agonized over whether to keep or return our joy-boy.
Caring for a Lamb
As I pictured returning the puppy we’d connected with in such a short time, I wondered if Passover brought the Hebrews the pain we felt. God required each family to bring the Passover lamb into their household and tend it the week before it died.
“On the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. … The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects. …Take special care of this chosen animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of this first month. Then the whole assembly of the community of Israel must slaughter their lamb or young goat at twilight” (Ex. 12:3, 5-6 NLT).
Caring for our injured puppy increased our attachment to him. Why would God have the families connect to the lamb they would lose?
Caring for our injured puppy increased our attachment to him. Why would God have the families connect to the lamb they would lose? #Easter Share on XThe First Passover
The first Passover took place in Egypt while the Israelites were slaves. Passover became an annual celebration to commemorate the night the death angel passed over each Hebrew home that bore lamb’s blood on their door frames. However, “there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead” (Ex. 12:30 NIV).
Someone died in every household that night—either a lamb or a son. Each lamb’s death was personal to someone.
In that light, having each Hebrew family emotionally connect with the lamb that would take their firstborn’s place seems fitting. Lessons that touch the heart resonate more than ones that simply instruct the head.
Lessons that touch the heart resonate more than ones that simply instruct the head. #RefreshingFaith #Easter Share on XThe Perfect Lamb of God
When John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), his Jewish audience understood. This was the long-awaited One. All of those Passover lambs through the centuries had pointed to Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God that would take their place.
Rabbi Jonathan Cahn says God’s lamb, Jesus, entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the very day the Jews led the Passover lambs to their houses.
- It took the death of lambs to save Israel’s firstborns from death.
- It took the death of God’s Lamb—His only Son—to free us from sin and save us from eternal death.
On Good Friday, the Lamb of God died for you and me. As in Egypt so long ago, a Lamb has offered His blood so that we might live. We either receive His sacrifice by faith and live eternally or, like the Egyptians under Pharaoh, we will die for our sins. Jesus’ death is personal to the one saved by Him.
Jesus' death is personal to the one saved by Him. #Easter, #GoodFriday Share on XWrestling over the possibility of losing our puppy gave me a new appreciation for the Lamb of God. Surgery restored his ability to race, leap, and prance with delight. We’re so thankful.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me (Is. 53: 2-8). Because He did, we can live unshackled by sin with hope for tomorrow and joy for today. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
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Blessings,
Resources
Free this week, The Fellowship of Performing Arts is presenting “Easter Passion.” Pairing Mark’s Gospel account with beautiful music makes this is a moving Easter treat.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory #Recharge Wednesday, #Grace&Truth,
Very powerful. Thank you Debbie!
Susan, I love how God uses our struggles to reveal more of Himself. Happy Easter!
Thank you so much for sharing that. I byt really brings this to life in a way I had not seen before. Wishing you a blessed Resurrection Day!
Thank you, Ann! Happy Easter to you and your family.
I love this. Thank you and Happy Easter. So happy to hear your “joy-boy” is doing great.
Thank you, Carol! Happy Easter to you.
Debbie, thank you for reminder of the details of the lamb that was sacrificed and the Lamb of God who died for my sins. This has been a difficult year with the death of my daughter, Susan. I am grateful for God’s love for me, that He gave His only begotte,n son, esus.
Dianne, I can’t even begin to imagine how hard this is. I’ve known too many parents that have lost children in the last year. One day, maybe soon, Jesus will bring us all together.
So many reasons to love this post; and I still praise God that your and Mr. Larry’s pal “Strider” has come through all this trial like a champ. I too can relate to what it is to care for little helpless, defenseless animals (of the bovine variety), and I know how much it hurts to lose one. I can’t imagine how Our Father must have felt as His Son was separated by the sin of the world. A perfect sacrifice to redeem mankind. Such a priceless gift.
J.D., I know you know what it is like to care for animals. I enjoy the lessons you share from caring for your herd. I can’t imagine all that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit went through that Good Friday. Thankful for such amazing love.
Debbie, I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your dog, as a dog lover, owner and someone who has lost a precious pup, your story resonated with me. I have often wondered about the same thing, why get close to a lamb that would hen be sacrificed? I was blessed to read your thoughts here, today, thank you!
Oh Donna, I’m sorry for your loss. They fill a special role that is hard to describe. Thanks so much for reading.
Our pests are such a joy to us & great material for biblical illustrations. Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you, Barb.
I think God required them to care for the lamb for days before Passover was to show them it was personal. It would hurt to let it go. It was personal to Him to let go of His beloved. It cost Him pain but it brought joy also because that pain birthed a new family.
I think so too, Barbara. He wanted us in a small way to appreciate the great cost.
I love this line ” Lessons that touch the heart resonate more than ones that simply instruct the head.” I remember once asking God if I could’ve just stubbed my toe to learn the lessons I gained during a friend’s sickness. Sometimes, God has to take us through deep seasons of hardship for us to grow in our relationship with Him. So glad your dog improved with surgery.
Joanna, I so identify with your prayer. I wish stubbed toes were enough to convey those important lessons. I always pray for a teachable spirit that listens. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you, Debbie, for the beautiful article on Easter. Happy Easter to you, human family members, and your imperfect puppy, also a family member.
Thank you, Yvonne. God bless you!
That first Passover makes me shudder. 🙁 So thankful we don’t have to live through that. All praise to our Lamb!
I know. I can’t imagine. Thanks, Lisa.
As a lover of Jesus and dogs, I really appreciate your post! God’s abundant blessings to you!
Thank you, Susan. And to you!
Thank you for your thoughtful , heart full, and spiritually inspired writing about your pup and the Pascal lamb.
I am an Orthodox Christian and a animal lover. My Pascha/Easter will be in a few weeks. Your writing about the sacrifice of the unblemished lamb was a powerful message of hope for me.
I’d appreciate any references to other animal stories especially about their spirit after they die
Thank you, Mary.