April, 7, 2021
Sweet Bunnies
On April 4, 2013, someone left a big retired stud rabbit on our porch with his litter box and food. He became Kimmy’s first all-by-herself pet. Her Mister Walter Rabbit (Louis pronounced it Wabbit) lived on with us for his last very happy bunny years! He started Kimberly’s love of rabbits and by extension, animals – she wants to be a veterinarian working in genetics with endangered animals.
A few years later on what Kimberly thought would be her saddest Christmas ever, her two big sisters gave her the bunny she was dreaming and saving for: our sweet playful Minuit. (Read that story here.)
On Easter Sunday, Minuit laid down and didn’t get up. Kimmy’s sweet little rabbit who snuggled with everyone, played with Primrose (Christina’s doggie), and jumped up to greet us when we came home from gym (or anywhere, for that matter). She was littler-box trained therefore had a “human off limits” cage with an open door that led into her shallow box that she leaned over to greet us from or hopped out entirely to snuggle with Kimberly, Sheba, or Prim. So much love and so many memories.
Pets touch our lives even though their lives are so relatively short. (This is why I loved fostering older animals when the kids were small and we had the space.) We miss them and have fond memories of them. Sheba, our miracle puppy that Christina prayed for. Mr. Walter Rabbit, Kimmy’s first bunny-love. Dakota, our protector. Rain, a shy sweetheart. Minuit, our snuggle-bunny. Lady, Becky’s deer-look-alike high-jumper. Bear, Mister-Independent “daddy” of all other pets. Robin. Purplemist. Evergreen. Sprite. Mandisa. Bloop. MacGyver. TobyMac. Taylor. Swan. Grizzly. Primrose… the list goes on (and I know I’m missing some birdies, guinea pigs, and foster doggies). The list will continue to go on as animals’ lives are so much shorter than our own. We see them (some are current, others past) in pictures or videos and remember them with smiles.
Sometimes people come into and out of our lives touching only a brief time.
The song we sang on Easter reminded me of my memories: part goes “You turn graves into gardens… mourning to dancing…”
Graves into gardens. We always plant our pets under young trees. Sheba got a whole garden.
Mourning to dancing. We are sad when someone (or pet) we love leaves so we mourn but we dance because we hope in eternity (people) and remember the memories of their lives (both people and pets). Every person (or pet) we love creates a lasting memory in our hearts. When we lose them it hurts.
I can smell Lady, hear Copper’s howls, feel Sheba’s soft fur when I think of them (previous pets). I know people argue on the “pets being in heaven” thing and I’m not about to weigh in on the theology of it, but it does make me smile to think of animals being in heaven. I hope we have animals in heaven; animals bring us all such joy! And, it’s just my imagination seeing a sweet scene: Kimmy’s floppy-eared snuggle-bunny found Sheba (her doggie mom) curled up near Mary and rediscovered her cuddle spot and a few new animal friends who have also shared our family’s love.
Animals teach us love.
I am so thankful for the love of that little perfect gift on Kimmy’s “would be saddest Christmas.” I am thankful for the time we spent with Minuit. For her curious snuggling personality. For the way she filled a gap for Kimberly that she didn’t know was there. Thank you, Jesus, for the love of animals.
Type at you next time,
~Nancy Tart
