Sojourner Stories: chloe's story.

On March 17, 2014, my family and I said goodbye to one of the cutest, sweetest, and loving dogs I've ever known, Chloe.

Chloe joined our family when I was in the 7th grade. I remember I had been gone to church camp for the weekend and my parents surprised my sister and I when I returned home. I had been begging my parents for years for an inside dog. My mom had some convincing to do with my dad because he was so adamant about "NO pets inside the house", except for our beta fish which you could not see because he hid in the plants. So it came to be, Chloe a part of our family, and my sister and I were beside ourselves with excitement. From that point forward, Chloe was our little angel, a blessing from God.

Chloe was special to each one of us in her own unique way:

My father, the one person who I thought would never accept her, was drawn closest to her. So close, that it wasn't long before she was in bed with him eating cereal off "his spoon." It took no time at all for her to work her magic and soften his heart. Chloe was so much fun. My sister and I enjoyed each day with her, having something to play with at all times. My brother just loved teasing her (as did my dad, it must be a man thing!). One day he felt compelled to harness her up and lower her down the laundry shoot. Sweet Chloe complied with no fuss and down the hatch she went. There we were to greet her at the other end and her tail just a'wagging!

Dad would find humor in things like: when he would prepare his cereal he found great pleasure in pouring 1/4 of the box on her back and giving the command "spin" and round and round she would go cereal flinging every where and then she would run around gobbling it all up. It would just tickle him to death, laughing all the way. Everyone enjoyed Chloe; family and friends.

Over the years Chloe became: a family member, best friend, play mate, bed partner, dinner companion, sports fan, travel, fishing, hunting, boating, 4 wheeling, companion. And there to celebrate every special occasion. A true, constant companion.

Job 1:21 "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away."

Chloe, 11 years old, became suddenly ill the week my mom came to visit. Mother doing her best to care for her and praying for her healing. My mom has a special walk with the Lord and is very attentive to His messages to her. He speaks to her in many different ways. On the third day of her visit, she was led to go for a walk. As she stepped out my front door she immediately noticed an image in the clouds of Chloe's face. God has given mother many images before like this so she knew what she was looking at. It gave instant comfort knowing the Lord heard her cries in prayer and was aware of Chloe's illness.

After her walk, the Lord led her to her Bible and she opened to Isaiah 38:4 "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears, says the Lord." With much peace within, she still was in discernment because she didn't know what the outcome would be. As the days followed it was obvious that Chloe was not going to be healed. My sister and dad came the following weekend and took her to a vet friend of my sisters. After running tests it was conclusive that Chloe had cancer and needed to be put to sleep. So on Monday my mom drove Chloe to Millsap, Texas where Katelyn lives and she put her to sleep and buried her.

The Lord had such a beautiful burial planned for Chloe unbeknownst to us. He allowed her to pass away in Texas and Katelyn was able to bury her in a beautiful valley in the hills with a the most vibrant sunset as Katelyn laid the last stone on her grave.

This has been such a life changing event from start to finish. God has shown His love and compassion even in a small furry little friend. It shows without a shadow of a doubt that our Lord above, has a purpose for ALL things in our lives. God chose Chloe to teach our family the greatest lesson of all, Unconditional Love. So, we must carry on the lessons learned that she has taught us.

The day after her burial the Lord led Mother to:

Psalm 55:13 "...my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship...."