Thank You, Sam

Tomorrow morning, Heidi and I will accompany our beloved dog, Sam, to the edge of this life and say goodbye.

For months, cancer has been quietly reshaping her world. We have watched her body grow tired and her steps become uncertain. Yet through it all, she has remained herself—gentle, faithful, and full of love.

One of the sorrows of loving an animal is that, sooner or later, we may be asked to make a decision that breaks our own hearts. It is easy to wonder if we are doing the right thing.

But when I sit quietly with that question, I come back to this: this decision is not about control. It is about compassion. If I were carrying the pain that Sam now carries, I would hope someone loved me enough to let me rest.

Today, we are practicing gratitude.

Gratitude for muddy paws, morning walks, quiet companionship, and the countless ordinary moments that became precious because she was there. Tomorrow our hearts will ache. But beneath the grief is a deep thankfulness for having been entrusted with this remarkable soul for a little while.

Thank you, Sam. You have been one of the great blessings of our lives.

May your suffering be at an end. May you know only peace.