Saturday, September 8, 2007

Please Pray - Again

The vet did exploratory surgery on my daughter's cat, Beyoncé, and her condition is hopeless. She will put her down in a few minutes.

My daughter and her three boys are distraught from grief. The cat was with them only a few months, but she had captured their hearts in a powerful way.

O Lord God bestow your love upon A, B, A, and W and heal them in spirit, mind, and body. Give them strength and courage to go on, and fill their hearts with your peace that passes understanding in Christ Jesus. Amen

23 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry, Mimi. That is hard news to bear---particularly for little ones.

    I know how quickly and deeply Jasper has captured my heart. I will pray for all involved.

    P.S. Forgive the off-topic question, but when is your birthday? Enquiring minds want to know... ;-)

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  2. Doxy, thanks for the prayers.

    I came into the world on September 18, 1934. Pass that on to the inquiring minds.

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  3. Prayers all around.
    Eternal Spirit, we bring you our grief in the loss of [name of pet] and ask for courage to bear it. We bring you our thanks for Beyonce who lived among us and gave us freely of his/her love. We commit our friend and companion Beyonce into your loving hands. Give us eyes to see how your love embraces all creatures and every living thing speaks to us of your love. Amen.

    Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen. --Franciscan prayer

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  4. I am so sorry. Please add my prayers to do you and your family.

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  5. Ann, that is beautiful. I will copy the prayer and send it to them.

    Thanks all for the prayers.

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  6. May God hold your family close as they mourn the death of their dear cat, Beyonce. Our furry companions wrap their paws and tails around our hearts and it is so, so hard when they die. They show for us what unconditional love is about (or, their conditions are pretty simple: shelter, feed, give water to and love me). I think that we measure the span of our years of how many creatures have graced our lives.

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  7. Animals do capture our hearts so quickly. Prayers and peace to all.

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  8. Oh, I am so sorry. Having lost a cat to emergency surgery a year and a half ago, I understand. Miss Maya Pavlova and I send kitty prayers and hugs of consolation.

    Animal funerals can be very helpful, by the way. They don't bring the dear furry creatures back, but they can offer a bit of ritual for the children -- and the adults. (If they have the cat cremated, which most folks do, they can do a little funeral with the ashes once the pet crematorium and/or vet sends them back in their little box, or sprinkle them around a pretty rosebush to help it grow.)

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  9. Jane, I believe that it's going to be a back yard burial, but I will suggest a ritual. Ann's prayer could be part of it. We have several pet burial spots in our back yard.

    If I measure the span of my years by the number of creatures that have graced my life, I am old, very old. The most pets that we had at one time was six cats and one dog. We did not have all of them in the house. Some of the cats lived outside.

    Our pets are true examples of unconditional love.

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  10. V sorry to read about this. One of the most traumatic deaths I ever experienced was the sudden death of a dog to whom I was deeply attached. Roger (LB)

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  11. Roger, thanks. My daughter's family has two dogs, too. I think that part of the trauma is that the cat was so young. I think the boys understand that one day their dogs will die, but they will be older. The little cat was just past the kitten stage, and she was a sweetie. She'd curl up on me when I'd visit.

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  12. Oh my- I am so sorry. It is heartbreaking.

    This is never easy, but harder yet with a little kitten and with kids too.

    My heart is open and prayers flow for all of you.

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  13. I did not write the prayers - have them in my resources for pet burials - we usually do a service where each person shares what the pet meant to them, say the Lord's prayer, sing the St. Francis song - "Make me a Channel of your peace" and say those prayers.

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  14. Fran, thanks for the prayers.

    Ann, thanks for the other ideas for a ceremony.

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  15. Grandmère, I was so sorry to hear about Beyoncé. The loss of a sweet young kitten is a very hard thing. I will keep your daughter and her sons in my prayers.
    God's peace and love to you all.

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  16. I am sorry for your loss. These furry ones become so much a part of our lives that it really is like loosing a part of yourself.

    I found these prayers helpful when client's pets have died.

    0 God our Maker, from the beginning you have permitted us, the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, to name our brother and sister creatures of earth, sea, and sky: We commend Beyonce to the arms of your everlasting love. Amen.

    0 Christ our Savior, in your love you gave yourself to death that the whole world might have life: Console A, B, A,and W who are grieving, and help us to trust in your everlasting love. Amen.

    These are from a liturgy written by Robert Stiefel of New Hampshire.

    You can see it here.

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  17. My thoughts are with them. It is truly amazing how these friends capture our hearts and how distressing it is when they depart.

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  18. What can I add except that my prayers are also with your daughter and your grandsons.

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  19. All of you, thank you for your prayers.

    Lindy, your prayer is lovely, too. I will visit the site that you linked to and pass it on to my daughter.

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  20. sorry to hear this. loss of a pet is awful. prayers for all of them and you, too.

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  21. Prayers for this little cat Beyonce and the family who loves her.

    Let Beyoncé not suffer. Comfort her and those around her, dear Lord, and console the grieving.

    Hugs through the blogosphere.

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  22. The deed was done late yesterday afternoon, and now that it is over, everyone seems a little better today. Uncertainly is the worst, and now that she's gone, I hope that they will accept that and begin to heal.

    Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.

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  23. oh, I'm so sad about this. prayers for them. Cats are such wonderful companions.

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