Coping With Loss . . .

About a month ago Hannah received a sobering text from her best friend saying they’d just leanred their dog had a tumor in it’s abdomen and would likely die in the next few months from complications caused by the tumor. Hannah loves her friend so much that she was teary after reading the text and quickly came asking me what she should do for Nicole. I suggested two things immediately – pray for her and call her. She did both but felt like the phone call had seemed superficial.

Later that night a thought came to me. I’m not a pet person. I have horrible pet dander allergies. I’ve never been endeared to an animal in the way many pet owners are, but I do understand that the grief associated with losing a pet is real. I decided I would ask the family if I could take some pictures of the kids with their dog as a way to help ease their sadness about what is an immanent loss in the near future.

It’s the only think I could think of that I could do to help.

So I photographed a dog. A very fast, happy, energetic, busy and loved dog. It was so much harder than any human subject I have ever taken pictures of, but still I think I was able to capture a few moments for this family to cherish.

I am not a professional photographer, but there have been a few times when I have been able to use my “hobby” to help other people. It is when I am the most grateful for this burgeoning talent.