Owen's Sweet Heart

My Owen has such a sweet and sensitive heart. Early this week we learned a typhoon would be approaching the island by the end of the week. Owen immediately became concerned for our safety and that of our neighbors. He asked tons of questions and was getting increasingly anxious. I asked him who cared for us and he said "God, but" to which I replied there are no "buts" with God. He is much bigger than the typhoon and He will take care of us and keep us safe. He couldn't stop focusing on what might happen to our things and started to cry. By bedtime he was calm but the first thing he said to me in the morning was "Mom, I'm not sure how Ashton is going to get his trampoline down for the typhoon that might be hard. What will they do about the trampoline?" I felt so bad for my sweet boy. He must have been thinking about it all night. 

Then as he was getting ready for school I received an email from my mom telling me that Pacer had died. I was sad for myself and my parents but I knew how this would break Owen's heart. I chose not to tell him until after school. He knew that Pacer had been sick and was hoping to send him a present to make him feel better. I had the unpleasant task of telling O that Pacer had gotten more ill and was having trouble breathing. Before I could finish Owen said "and he died?" I told him yes and he immediately started crying. He sobbed for 45 minutes. He loved that dog like it was his own. He just kept saying he missed him and wanted to play with him. As I held my sweet boy I cried too. I wanted to take the hurt away and yet I knew it was inevitable. Dogs don't live forever and loss is part of life. Owen was able to call my mom before he went to bed and talk to her about Pacer. She assured him that Pacer knew O loved him and that he died while Gramz and Baba held him. He seemed OK talking to her and I heard him say "GramZ when I get back to the United States I'm going to get a dog like Pacer, he might be a different color but he'll look like him and I'll name him Pacer too." He has such a sweet heart! It was hard to watch my baby take one more step out of the innocence of his childhood. I wish I could keep him from the inevitable hurt that will cross his path, but I know I can't. But I know that I can trust God to care for him. Please say a prayer for my O and for GramZ and Baba. They are missing a sweet, feisty, black and white cocker spaniel and it will take a little time to heal.