It's the circle of life

We have been surrounded by the excitement of a newborn life, and the heartbreak of death, for at least as long as Lydia has been alive. 

We hatched our own baby chickens, raised baby goats, and kept piglets for the purpose of slaughtering them for meat. 

Lydia grew up around all of that. Jonell and I never had the truth hidden from her. She always has known the truth that death is a natural part of life, from a very small child. 

She also has always been raised with a strong faith in God. There were of course, many animals that Lydia raised with love, from birth until death. She had her favorites. 

One of her favorites was a rabbit she named Juice, (Yes, from the Sons of Anarchy era ). Juice survived many cold winter nights when the temperature plunged below zero. And there were lots of hot summer days, when the mercury recorded over 100 degrees. 

Lydia loved that rabbit, and would often cradle it in her arms like a baby. She was in fact,  holding Juice when she passed away. Somewhat of a traumatic experience, but at the same time, very comforting too. 

It is a cathartic experience, to be there for a creature, showing it how much love you have for it. You can only hope, that it makes their journey easier too. I like to think that it does. 

The experience was understandably upsetting for everyone, especially Lydia. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't console her, obviously.

 Fortunately, Jonell was there, and she gently held Lydia, as she wept her tears of loss. The eventual death of Juice was inevitable. 

Much as will be mine. 

Lydia's grief was an outpouring of her love for Juice. It made me cry then. 

And it makes me cry as I write these words. 

I'm happy that Jonell was there to show her comfort. 

We are confronted with death, and we are overcome with grief. 

It is the natural reaction as we come to accept one of life's unpleasant truths. It brings us closer to the realization that someday, we to will discover the great mystery, we call death. 

Of course, we don't contemplate it nearly as much, when we are thirteen, as we do when we are sixty-three! 



It's the circle of life

And it moves us all

Through despair and hope 

Through faith and love 

' Til we find our place

On the path unwinding 

In the circle 

The circle of life 


          Songwriters: Elton John /Tim Rice

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