Harry was dying. My husband and I knew it, our beloved and trusted vet confirmed it, and even the other dogs seemed to sense that Harry was not well. His symptoms had grown worse, but he was determined to live and love as long as he could.

Harry was a stray schnauzer that my husband found years ago on the street. At the time, his heart was full of worms, and his face and backside were bald from fleas. He was emaciated. And somehow, we fell in love with him.

Even King Solomon, with all of his expertise, was wise enough to know that some questions cannot be answered.

As our dog recuperated, we learned that he loved to play fetch. He claimed the spot next to me on the couch, waiting until I sat down before he jumped up. No dog ever loved me like Harry. He was truly grateful to be rescued, and we were truly grateful to have found him.

And so, after weeks of struggling, I woke up and knew that this day would be Harry’s last. Any pet owner knows the deal that we make: They give us their complete and total loyalty, love, and devotion — and we make the best decisions for these most beloved friends on their behalf. Even when it means ending their lives to ease their pain.

Katie Nations’ dog Harry and her newborn son

I’ll spare you the details, but I will share that the morning of Harry’s last day on earth, I prayed that God would mercifully confirm that I was making the right decision. Within minutes, God graciously showed me that Harry was suffering and that I had the power to stop that suffering.

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Every detail of the experience showed that I could not deny God’s compassion. The vet had no other patients to attend to that morning. She allowed me an hour to sit and hold Harry before his injection, to pet him and tell him we loved him. Those were precious, peaceful moments.

It wasn’t the first dog I’d had to put to sleep, but it was by far the hardest. Yet in the midst of famine in the world, of war, violence, and unspeakable suffering in so many places, God cared about a dog that was dying — because God cares about me.

There’s a passage written by wise King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:21. I share it with my children to encourage them to see Harry (and our other canine family members that have passed away) in heaven one day. It says, “For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?” Even King Solomon, with all of his expertise and studies, was wise enough to know that some questions cannot be answered in this life.

I don’t know if all dogs go to heaven, but I do know that Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:26 that God cares for the birds of the air. And if God cares for the birds, how much more does He care about us? He numbers the hairs on our heads. And if we take the time to ask God for His help, He is faithful to provide.

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Sometimes my problems seem too small for God to deal with. I don’t want to bother Him with the minutiae of my day. But that’s when God shows me that He is my Father. He is my Creator. And His love is greater than any burden I might bear. He is a God of details, as is evidenced throughout His creation.

Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.” There’s no requirement for the size of burden, no prerequisite — just burdens, big and small.

If God can assure me that Harry’s life did not end unnoticed, He can carry your burden for today.

Katie Nations is a working mother of three young children. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.