brodieboxer
Completely Boxer Crazy
So sorry for your family's loss. Boxers definitely worm their way into your heart, don't they? I lost a boxer to cancer several years ago, and he was so special! Run free, Josie!
Lost our Josie on Thanksgiving
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A post from my ministry blog. (Hope it's not inappropriate for this forum.)
You know that question people always ask? "Why do bad things happen?" I found myself asking it a few weeks ago as our beautiful 2 year old boxer dog died suddenly and without warning on Thanksgiving day. Our poor dog-sitter returned to the house to find her body while we were hours away with family.
Josie was a new dog to us, that we had gotten through Craigslist 8 months before from a nice family who just didn't have time for her. She spent her days in a kennel while they went to work and school. At 15 months old, she still wasn't potty trained when we got her. But our Chloe needed a playmate and Josie was a sweet little boxer and we brought her home. She quickly learned her place in our lives; playing in the yard with Chloe, going on runs with me, and following my wife Katie to every single room she went to throughout the day. Josie was always touching someone, as lovable as they come. We always believed that her previous neglect caused her to be so dependent on us for affection, and we loved that. And therefore, she wiggled her way into our hearts quickly.
Then she was gone. I am not a cryer. The last time I cried was ten years ago when my grandpa died, and even then, I did it in secret. I am a practical, logical person, and emotion rarely bubbles to the surface in this way. (In fact, I sometimes laugh at inappropriate times instead.) But I balled at the loss of my Josie. Katie and I were a mess. It ruined our Thanksgiving and made us terrible parents to our boys; we just lost all patience for their behavior and yelled unnecessarily. It was a rough weekend.
I, being the impatient person that I am, started looking at Craigslist for another boxer. No, another one wouldn't erase the hurt from missing Josie, but we knew we'd want another for us and for Chloe, and I'm not much for waiting. And there he was; a 6 month old brindle boxer named Prince in Des Moines, who needed a new home. So there we went, 50 miles out of the way on our already horrendous 8 hour drive home from Wichita, to Des Moines to see a dog. And we brought him home.
Cassius - the dog formerly known as Prince - is possibly the tamest boxer I've ever seen. He is mild mannered, sweet, and extremely loving; and a great addition to our family.
So let me get back to the question. "Why did our sweet little Josie have to die?" While I don't know specifically, I do know this. We live in a world wrought with sin, illness, and death; and all of these are a result of the Fall. And because of this, we all die. I don't for a second believe God took my Josie away from me. Not to test my faith, not to punish me, not to make way for Cassius. Jesus loves me, this I know, and His desire is not to hurt me. In fact, I believe He was with my family as we grieved.
But our God is a God of redemption. And He can redeem the worst situations. I've seen it before in my life, and I'm seeing it now. While we miss Josie and would never have wanted her gone, Katie and I talked at lunch today at how happy Cash seems to be now. His previous owners had no room and he went from inside kennel to outdoor kennel and back. Now, he runs and plays with Chloe, chases our boys, and lays on the couch with us at night. In fact, he follows Katie around all day just like Josie did. In the midst of our loss, God is redeeming our family, our hurts, and working for our good.
I know what some of you are thinking: You have way bigger problems than losing a dog. I agree. There are much worse situations in many peoples' lives. But God is there too; redeeming your story and working to give you a hope and a future.
Our world is broken and bad things happen, but our God is hard at work redeeming His creation; getting His hands dirty on our behalf. And I am grateful for His faithfulness, even when my faith wanes.
Thanks, Jesus, for Your love and grace. And tell Josie we love and miss her.
You know that question people always ask? "Why do bad things happen?" I found myself asking it a few weeks ago as our beautiful 2 year old boxer dog died suddenly and without warning on Thanksgiving day. Our poor dog-sitter returned to the house to find her body while we were hours away with family.
Josie was a new dog to us, that we had gotten through Craigslist 8 months before from a nice family who just didn't have time for her. She spent her days in a kennel while they went to work and school. At 15 months old, she still wasn't potty trained when we got her. But our Chloe needed a playmate and Josie was a sweet little boxer and we brought her home. She quickly learned her place in our lives; playing in the yard with Chloe, going on runs with me, and following my wife Katie to every single room she went to throughout the day. Josie was always touching someone, as lovable as they come. We always believed that her previous neglect caused her to be so dependent on us for affection, and we loved that. And therefore, she wiggled her way into our hearts quickly.
Then she was gone. I am not a cryer. The last time I cried was ten years ago when my grandpa died, and even then, I did it in secret. I am a practical, logical person, and emotion rarely bubbles to the surface in this way. (In fact, I sometimes laugh at inappropriate times instead.) But I balled at the loss of my Josie. Katie and I were a mess. It ruined our Thanksgiving and made us terrible parents to our boys; we just lost all patience for their behavior and yelled unnecessarily. It was a rough weekend.
I, being the impatient person that I am, started looking at Craigslist for another boxer. No, another one wouldn't erase the hurt from missing Josie, but we knew we'd want another for us and for Chloe, and I'm not much for waiting. And there he was; a 6 month old brindle boxer named Prince in Des Moines, who needed a new home. So there we went, 50 miles out of the way on our already horrendous 8 hour drive home from Wichita, to Des Moines to see a dog. And we brought him home.
Cassius - the dog formerly known as Prince - is possibly the tamest boxer I've ever seen. He is mild mannered, sweet, and extremely loving; and a great addition to our family.
So let me get back to the question. "Why did our sweet little Josie have to die?" While I don't know specifically, I do know this. We live in a world wrought with sin, illness, and death; and all of these are a result of the Fall. And because of this, we all die. I don't for a second believe God took my Josie away from me. Not to test my faith, not to punish me, not to make way for Cassius. Jesus loves me, this I know, and His desire is not to hurt me. In fact, I believe He was with my family as we grieved.
But our God is a God of redemption. And He can redeem the worst situations. I've seen it before in my life, and I'm seeing it now. While we miss Josie and would never have wanted her gone, Katie and I talked at lunch today at how happy Cash seems to be now. His previous owners had no room and he went from inside kennel to outdoor kennel and back. Now, he runs and plays with Chloe, chases our boys, and lays on the couch with us at night. In fact, he follows Katie around all day just like Josie did. In the midst of our loss, God is redeeming our family, our hurts, and working for our good.
I know what some of you are thinking: You have way bigger problems than losing a dog. I agree. There are much worse situations in many peoples' lives. But God is there too; redeeming your story and working to give you a hope and a future.
Our world is broken and bad things happen, but our God is hard at work redeeming His creation; getting His hands dirty on our behalf. And I am grateful for His faithfulness, even when my faith wanes.
Thanks, Jesus, for Your love and grace. And tell Josie we love and miss her.
RoxynBruzer
Boxer Pal
Regan,
First off, I'm so sorry for your loss of Josie. It's never easy, but happening suddenly like that and on a day as Thanksgiving is unimaginable. My hearts aches for all of you, and I hope there's some comfort knowing she experienced how life was, and should have always been, being loved and cared for by a loving family.
We lost our 5-year-old boxer to lymphoma on Labor Day and it has been one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. People were saying the best cure for losing a pet was to get another one, and with an 8-year-old boxer, we knew he would get lonely and it would be good for him, but I wasn't ready and didn't think I would be for a long time. I felt I would know when the time was right.
Right after Roxy passed away I started following boxer rescues and donated to help save a couple boxers, which felt really good, and although it wouldnt bring Roxy back, it did help fill the void in my heart at the time.
Anyway, things happened last week for us to rescue a 7-month-old boxer that was abandoned outside of Dallas and survived with her sister for (estimated by condition when found) 10-14 days on their own. We're still getting her to a healthy state, and although its only been 10 days, I absolutely adore her. She is the sweetest thing ever and it angers me how someone would abandon any dog. (But that's another thread!)
Our beloved Roxy will never be replaced, and I miss her dearly and always will, but I truly think had I known how much getting another dog would help with the healing process for all of us, including Bruzer, I would have done this so much sooner.
I was very touched by your story, and although sad, you found a way to convey this in a nurturing and healing way by how you dealt with this. Sometimes we need to be reminded that things do happen that's not fair, that we're not being punished for or anyone's fault, but unfortunate and part of life. Told from the heart and well said! Thank you!!
Warmest Regards,
Danielle
First off, I'm so sorry for your loss of Josie. It's never easy, but happening suddenly like that and on a day as Thanksgiving is unimaginable. My hearts aches for all of you, and I hope there's some comfort knowing she experienced how life was, and should have always been, being loved and cared for by a loving family.
We lost our 5-year-old boxer to lymphoma on Labor Day and it has been one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. People were saying the best cure for losing a pet was to get another one, and with an 8-year-old boxer, we knew he would get lonely and it would be good for him, but I wasn't ready and didn't think I would be for a long time. I felt I would know when the time was right.
Right after Roxy passed away I started following boxer rescues and donated to help save a couple boxers, which felt really good, and although it wouldnt bring Roxy back, it did help fill the void in my heart at the time.
Anyway, things happened last week for us to rescue a 7-month-old boxer that was abandoned outside of Dallas and survived with her sister for (estimated by condition when found) 10-14 days on their own. We're still getting her to a healthy state, and although its only been 10 days, I absolutely adore her. She is the sweetest thing ever and it angers me how someone would abandon any dog. (But that's another thread!)
Our beloved Roxy will never be replaced, and I miss her dearly and always will, but I truly think had I known how much getting another dog would help with the healing process for all of us, including Bruzer, I would have done this so much sooner.
I was very touched by your story, and although sad, you found a way to convey this in a nurturing and healing way by how you dealt with this. Sometimes we need to be reminded that things do happen that's not fair, that we're not being punished for or anyone's fault, but unfortunate and part of life. Told from the heart and well said! Thank you!!
Warmest Regards,
Danielle
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