A dark, heavy cloud of grief permeated our household last week. We lost a loving member of our family, Ceelo, our English bulldog. God blessed us with ten years of his love and loyalty. Oh, what joy he brought into our lives. He loved everyone he met. He loved roaming our backyard eating sticks and pine cones. He loved King’s Hawaiian Rolls. He loved the beach and especially rides on the golf cart and in the lawn mower trailer. He was happiest laying beside my bed at night or sitting in Donna’s lap watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Our hearts are broken. His space in our sunroom by the window where he loved to lie in the sun is now only an empty reminder.

I’ve heard many times the question: “Do our pets go to heaven when they pass”? In the silence of my pain this week, that answer came for me. Our pets do not go to heaven when they pass. Our pets are actually “Heaven Ambassadors” dispatched by God into our lives here in this world. Better said, they are Angels. They offer us what humans cannot, unconditional love. Of all the directives we encounter in following Jesus, the main theme is love. Loving other people is difficult. The ones we love disappoint us and at times treat us badly.

Even though the ones we love offer blessings, maintaining loving relationships with other people is challenging. It’s not that way with our pets. God gave our furry friends the ability to show us what true unconditional love really means and the fact that it can be done. Ceelo truly loved our family unconditionally. I don’t expect to see him in heaven. My sweet and trusted friend has done his heavenly work here in the lives of all who knew him. I know God is pleased with his life in doing just that. ❤️

PS – I want to thank Dr. Starr Hutcherson, Dr. Natasha Olby and their entire staff at NCSU Veterinary School for providing expert care and most importantly love and compassion in Ceelo’s final time with us.

Charlie Gray