When To Let Go

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Debi Walter

Today is the first day in almost 13 years that my precious kitty is no longer with us.  He has been sick, and I’ve been putting off making the difficult, but necessary decision.

Tom doesn’t like cats, but Wizzer made it into his heart – as close as any cat ever could  – and he has helped me through this heart wrenching process.  Here is a recent conversation:

Me: I know I need to make a decision, but I’m not ready.  I don’t know if I’m able to.

Tom: I know it’s hard.  I can make the decision for you if it would help.

Me:  That’s so nice of you, but telling you to make the decision feels like I’m the one really making the decision because I know you’ll follow through.  That’s my dilemma.

Tom:  I understand.  I won’t push you.  You have to deal with this in your own heart and you’ll know when you’re ready.

That was a couple of weeks ago.  I woke up in the night shortly after this conversation tossing and turning and praying and crying.  I wanted to do what was right for him.  He is obviously miserable, and I realized at this point I was finally letting go.

The Bible says in Proverbs 12:10

10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Without a doubt I know I have had regard for Wizzer’s life.  Now it was time to have mercy on him and let him go.

By God’s grace and Tom’s love and support we did what we had to do.  I will miss him, and this is how I will remember him – at his best as my big, fat, fluffy Bubby.  😦

This is post #9 in The Ultimate Blog Challenge to post each day in July

About Debi Walter

Tom and Debi have been sharing encouragements through their blogs for many years. Marriage, Reading God's Word and documenting family history is our focus. Growing in our relationship with the Lord is primary in all we say, write or do. We are grateful for all who desire to join us in the same endeavors.
This entry was posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Difficulty and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to When To Let Go

  1. Bonnie Anderson says:
    July 9, 2011 at 9:49 am

    Oh Debi, I’m so sorry for what you went through. I remember you popping over right after I had put Mac down and crying together. I’m crying for you now because I know how much you love your Wizzer. I’m so glad God helped you to help him.

    Like

  2. Paul B. Taubman, II says:
    July 9, 2011 at 9:58 am

    Oh my gosh, Debi!
    I thought that was a Photoshop’d picture of a huge cat! What a loveable fur ball! I want to reach out and just rub that belly!
    Our pets give us so much attention and love – it is difficult to see them go. All my life I have had pets and they provide so much joy and gratitude! Bubby looks like he was a source of all of that!
    Be Well.
    Paul.
    http://AllAboutGratitude.com

    Like

  3. Nancy Rose says:
    July 9, 2011 at 10:31 am

    I commend you for finally finding peace in this event. You heart was truly there, and I’m sure your cat knew you loved him. I had to put 2 dogs to sleep in my life, and it wasn’t easy. But knowing the pain they were going thru, it made it easier to let them go. I love the Bible verse you quoted.

    Like

  4. Kim Enfield says:
    July 9, 2011 at 10:42 am

    I am so sorry to hear about your kitty. My husband JIm and I have had cats for almost all of the 25 years we’ve been married and we too have had to make the very tuff choice of letting go to 3 or them as they got older and ill. I know this is not easy for you and my heart goes out to you both.

    Like

  5. Amethyst Mahoney says:
    July 9, 2011 at 1:48 pm

    I’m sorry about your loss. Hopefully you’ll see him again someday. Maybe he’ll pop over from Kitty Heaven. I had a dog that we got when I was 4 years old. At age 24 I had to help him go to sleep. For two weeks I had to carry him outside to potty and back in, and he would only lick applesauce off my finger. In retrospect, I let it go on far too long and hope that I did not contribute to any suffering for him. You should be proud of yourself for being able to make the tough decision when it needed to be made.

    Like

  6. Sharon O says:
    July 10, 2011 at 2:09 am

    That is so hard, we had to put our ‘Hannah’ cat down a few years ago. she was large in size and diabetic and very ill and she also wet a loveseat, my husbands recliner then mine. I had the vet keep her for three days do a bunch of tests on her and let me know if she was being a bratty cat or was she sick. After almost 400.00 later the vet said she was very ill, needing insulin several times a day, testing her levels would be hard because of her size and she was going to pass away in less than 6 months. So we made the difficult choice to say goodbye and let her go. We have three other seniors left two dogs and my other cat. After they leave us we are going to be animal free for at least a year. We purchased new furniture and was a bit relieved we didn’t have to worry about the question: ‘IS YOUR CHAIR WET?’ I am sorry for your loss.

    Like

  7. Pingback: A Fragrant Aroma – A Special Gift | The Romantic Vineyard

Comments are closed.