Meourning

Shalom God,

Yesterday we had to tell our girls that one of our cats had most likely died.  We don't know for sure but we haven't seen him in more than a week and she was sick.  We imagine that he left to find a place to die.

You know, hope is a wonderful thing but it can also be painful.  My eldest held out hope until late at night that we would find our furry friend (Coko.)  Having to convince her to let go of that hope was painful for us.  We never want her to lose hope - faith.  But sometimes you do have to let go.

Especially for my eldest, letting go is hard.  I don't think she every really let go of her sister Liat when she died.  Sometimes I think that all of the struggles to let go that she faces in her young life are just a continuation of that first letting go.  Or maybe that's me I'm talking about.

In any case, Coko, we miss you.  You were a really good friend.  Maya, your sister, misses you too.  God, if You care for the souls of animals as You do the souls of humans, please look after Coko.  Please stroke his fur for us and give him kisses.  He brought love into our home and for that we are thankful.

Baruch Dayan Emet
David