Recently, one of my pets died. I have been upset about losing it, and on the day it died, I was talking to a friend of mine. I had got past the crying stage for that day, and I was talking about my beliefs about death.
I told her that I was trying to console myself with my belief that my relatives who have passed will look after my pet until I get there. She said 'If you have such beautiful ideas about the afterlife, how can you be sad?' All I could say is that it's the same thing as when someone you know moves away and you know you won't see them for a long time. You get upset when they leave, and you miss them.
I was wondering what everyone else thought about this.
2007-12-06 03:29:14 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am so so so sorry for your loss. Please think of this. You gave your pet a wonderful life and home and your pet brought joy and love to yours. I believe all pets are in heaven. So one day you will see your pet again. I know there is nothing anyone can really say to make you feel better but again I am so sorry for your loss and your pet will always be in your heart. It is so true our pets have moved on and are happy but we are the ones that suffer because we miss them. Just remember to give your love to another pet that doesn't have any love or home. I am sending a big hug your way. Good luck.
2007-12-06 03:36:55 · answer #1 · answered by feeona 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People who believe in an afterlife can and do grieve when they lose a loved one, be that a person or a pet. That loved one is GONE from this life, and can never be seen again until the one grieving is also dead. That is what grief is about, really ... the LOSS felt by the person who must go in without that much loved friend, person, pet, family. There are 'stages' to grief that we all feel and must get through, regardless of our beliefs ... death and the afterlife are 'religious' ideas (and ideals, too) but GRIEF is the LOSS we feel. So, go ahead and cry, since you loved your pet who is now gone from THIS LIFE. I'm glad that you believe that others whom you have lost will 'watch over' this loved pet until you are in Heaven, too ... but don't deny yourself the full feeling of grief, because to do that would be to reduce who you are in the NOW, and that reduction is not consonant with the religious beliefs in an afterlife ... if anything, that 'denial' could be the beginnings of denial in that belief ... so cry, grieve, and get through it. YOU will be a BETTER PERSON after the grieving is done. Also, please go out and get a new pet ... you need that love that is now missing, and the new pet also needs your love NOW.
2007-12-06 11:37:51 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry to hear about your pet, I've lost several pets myself. The bottom line about grief is that it is a human emotion & it is normal. A belief in an afterlife does not exempt anyone from grieving, don't try to ignore your feelings over some else's opinion or insensitivity. Whether it's a pet, a friend or a spouse, when they're gone, we miss them & we are sad. If we believe in an afterlife & that we will see them again, it is a comfort to a degree but they are not with us in the 'here & now' & that can be difficult @ times.
2007-12-06 11:40:15 · answer #3 · answered by wanda3s48 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, well, I have finally found a real person that believes that pets go to heaven. They are you little guardian angels with unconditional love. They too are also around you at all times though, you are not able to see them, but they do manifest by tale tale sighs. Be very observing. They do not die as some believe and are no longer in existence. They are energy just like us and energy never ceases to exist, but only changes form.They have souls, but not exactly like ours. I have also heard that every pet that you have had is in the spirit world and are waiting to see you as much as you want to see them. In fact they will be the first ones to meet you when you cross over, relatives second. A lot of times they will come to you in your dreams. So real that you will have a hard time convincing your self otherwise. Grieving is a normal process and will take time, but always know your pet is with you.
2007-12-06 11:59:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think losing a pet is just as bad as losing a family member... pets are part of your family. I would like to think that they are still here watching over me in some way. As for the "afterlife," I believe we all return to the cosmos (so to speak) and are reborn into a new life... maybe as a human, maybe as someone's beloved pet. I don't think it's any accident that my dog showed up at my house and would not go away. She's got to be some connection from a past life.
2007-12-06 11:36:27 · answer #5 · answered by Cheryl E 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sorry for your loss.
We mourn because in this world, we will not physically share the company of loved onces again. If your loved ones were to take part in a deep space expedition and would never return, and you had no opportunity for contact with them ever again, you would still mourn and miss them.
While we tend to believe in an afterlife, we all harbour some measure of doubt, whether we admit it or not. What if we will really never see them again? What if they are gone for good? Despite our beliefs, we fear. We doubt.
African traditions delineate two different kinds of dead: the truly dead, who no one alive actually remembers, and the partially dead, who live on because people they knew and loved still recall them. All your loved ones still live, through you.
2007-12-06 11:39:27 · answer #6 · answered by Kara J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's exactly how I feel. It has nothing to do with whether I'll see someone again, it has to do with missing their absence in the interim. How strange that your friend would think a belief in the afterlife would somehow mean you weren't feeling the loss.
I'm sorry aout your pet.
)O(
2007-12-06 11:41:53 · answer #7 · answered by wyvern1313 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, we lost one of our cats this time last year, and her sister passed away today. Sugar was 17, had been sick, and had really started to decline this week. We had her and her sister since they were 4 weeks old. Did I cry?? Yes. My baby is gone. She won't be sitting on the sofa with me anymore. She won't be following me around while I do housework. She won't be there for me to love on when I've had a bad day. I know I will miss her terribly. But, she's not sick anymore, she's in full health, annoying her sister, with my husband's father taking care of them. It helps, but I still want to hold my baby.
2007-12-06 11:37:38 · answer #8 · answered by usafbrat64 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When friends and family move away I grieve! You MISS them. I believe that animals have souls and we will see them again as certainly as we will see our love ones. I still can cry if I hear a friend is moving out of town..Don't feel guilty. It's good to be tender and capable of love!
2007-12-06 11:34:43 · answer #9 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lost our doggie two weeks ago and I am still crying. I know she is with my dad in Heaven as he loved dogs, I had had her 11 years. Believe me, your pet is free from pain and waiting for the day you 2 can reunite. I know trhis is true because I dreamt about my dad and he told me the doggie is with him Good luck Believe me I share your grief
2007-12-06 11:37:13 · answer #10 · answered by devora k 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋