03 May So Long for Now, My Gigi Girl 💔

Gosh, this is so hard to write. It’s been taking me forever… but here goes. Four weeks ago, we had to let our little sunshine, Gigi, go Home. It was time. She was ready—even if I wasn’t. It still hurts to write those words and now I’m crying, again. I told you a little of what was happening a while back, here in Rhythms of Life …and things just continued to worsen for our little punkin’.

The righteous care for the needs of their animals – Proverbs 12:10

Gigi lived a happy, healthy and fun 12 years of life until four months ago, in early December, when the effects of IVDD (intravertebral disc disease) became debilitating. She was a fighter to the end; still had an appetite, though not quite as voracious; and though she could no longer walk, we went for lots of stroller rides around the neighborhood, to the park, to Whole Foods… she loved that! But in early March she lost all mobility. It was my privilege and joy to give my baby girl the hands-on care she required during the last months of her life—carrying her, holding her, and feeding her by hand those last couple of weeks, just like a baby. That’s what I signed up for when we got her— not just to enjoy her, but to love and care for her.

But this was not the quality of life our Gigi once enjoyed with typical Frenchie zeal and vigor. She was rapidly failing in strength. Better life awaited her, and John and I wanted that for her more than we wanted her presence in our home. The Lord led us as we made the prayerful decision to let her go on Home. She was safe and content in my lap, with John by her side, in our home; and the kindest hospice vet to attend to Gigi…was a kiss from the Lord. Thank you, Jesus.

Our last full day together was bittersweet. I fed her roasted salmon and her new favorite concoction of yogurt and pureed pumpkin with maple syrup drizzled over it. We spent the day doing as many of her favorite things as she was able; including gardening on the patio. I laid her down on her mat, in the sunshine—her favorite place, and she watched me like a hawk as I potted some roses. And as soon as I got out the hose to water, she lifted her head with enthusiasm and began barking as she always had. That girl loved the hose! In better days, her M.O. was to run straight to the patio door after a long hot walk and wait for me to take her outside and hose her down— barking furiously and biting at the water. That last day, she barked at the water—almost as if to say, “I still remember…I’ve still got it in me… I just can’t get up and go anymore.”

Oh, my sweet Gigi… but one day you will, again!

You are My Sunshine ☀️

I thought you might like to see a little video I put together of our Gigi… it’s’ from my InstaGram / Facebook reel. Watch: Gigi, You are My Sunshine!

She was our Gigi Girl, Geeg, G, The Queen, Little Buddy Girl, Punkin’ Head, and God’s Girl… so many fun names for such a little smidget of a Frenchie. Golly, she made us laugh so hard… and bossed us around in typical Frenchie style!

As we often said, It’s Gigi’s world (and house), we just live in it! Indeed.

Gigi was loved by everyone! Friends, family, and social media friends…when they’d ask how John and I were doing, they’d always ask, And how is Gigi? Or they’d ask for her to make an appearance on social media! And my Wednesday night Lovelies… well, Gigi was just one of the girls, and present for every gathering… waiting with excitement for them to arrive, and sitting in my lap while we had our study. And oh, my goodness, the calls and letters, the gifts and FLOWERS that people have blessed us with in these past weeks… my house looked like a wedding was happening, and my heart was helped tremendously by your love! Thank you! Your kindness has been a sweet kiss from the Lord to us.

I Believe the Bible

My theology about animals in heaven is that they will be there. Because why would they not? I wrote about it last August, and you can read it here in I Can Only Imagine. God created those creatures to be of great help, joy, delight, and comfort to us on this earth. Why would God not have Heaven filled with all His animals—including our pets?

It was no coincidence that I happened to have been leading my Lovelies (the young women I disciple) through Genesis 1-11 in our Wednesday night group. We’d been looking closely at all the beginnings of God’s creation; the importance He places on the things He made, and the utter delight He takes in them! Highest in value of all being man and woman; and second being animals. In fact, the covenant that God made with Noah (to never destroy the earth again by flood) was for all mankind—and to animals, which He stated four times in Genesis 9:12-17. That’s significant! And He put man—us—in charge of caring for His animal creation (Genesis 1:26-21; Proverbs 12:10). So, why would Heaven be missing the creatures that God, and we, so love?

Something to Think About

In her book, Holiness in Hidden Places, Joni Eareckson Tada writes,

“If God brings our pets back to life, it wouldn’t surprise me. It would be just like Him. It would be totally in keeping with His generous character… Exorbitant. Excessive. Extravagant in grace after grace… Heaven is going to be a place that will refract and reflect in as many ways as possible the goodness and joy of our great God, who delights in lavishing love on His children.”

Amen to that, dear Joni! Amen!

Surrounded by God’s glory, and looking into the beautiful eyes of our Savior and King… there will be no greater joy than to one day see our Jesus face-to-face. Nothing we’ve ever known, or loved, or experienced will compare with that awesome moment when we—breathlessly—finally behold him! What joy… what surprises await us when we arrive in our Forever Home… I can only imagine. And wouldn’t it be just like Jesus, once we’re there, to surprise us with some of the creatures that have given us such joy and comfort on this earth. 🩷

One More Thing

Pets are not humans, nor are they as important; but the loss of a pet is deeply felt. And we are feeling the loss of Gigi deeply. I knew this day would come, but I didn’t know it would be so hard. Maybe harder for me than John, because Gigi was a bigger part of my daily routine. Our little punkin’ head Gigi has left an empty space in our hearts, our home and our everyday life.

Gosh, I miss my girl so much. Our house is quiet. My lap is empty. My heart aches.

Gigi was God’s “good gift” to us; entrusted to us to love and to care for, and it was a joy, and honor and privilege to do so! Yes, I do believe we’ll see our Gigi again, on the New Earth, when God makes “all things new.” Until then, we can know and believe that Heaven is real… and God has more planned for us than we can imagine!

So, love your pets, and take good and right care of them—even when it gets hard. That’s your God-given responsibility, and privilege.

As I said nearly every single time I’d leave the house, as I tossed her a treat… See ya later, Gigi Girl! I love you!

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us— Romans 8:18

Until next week— don’t forget that you are greatly and dearly loved by The King! And let’s live our beautiful, ordinary lives like women who believe it!

I love you!
xo – P ❤️‍🩹