Journalist's Encouragement
Animals in Heaven?
 We thought our readers might enjoy this encouraging, inspiring letter from a newspaper columnist. We have shortened the letter and changed identification markers to protect the author.
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Hi Val&Ken,
I write a pet column for my local newspaper. Many people who love their pets ask me, "Will my pet go to Heaven?" I always refer them to your article titled Pets in Heaven.
Just recently, a friend of mine who did not believe in God at all, lost her cat named Lacey. My friend became very depressed because she did not think she would ever see her again. I pointed out everything you mentioned in your article about pets in Heaven and how God would make all things new, not make all new things. I also told her that because God intricately knows us in that he has numbered the hairs on our head, counts our tears and saves them in a bottle and knows our hearts desires, He would never think that we would be happy in an eternal home that did not include our pets. He made us to have a passion for animals so they would obviously have to be in Heaven.
 My friend told me this morning that she now believes God and the afterlife, too. Be assured that your spirit led articles are saving souls as well as comforting those who have lost loved ones. This is an excerpt from her e-mail to me
"One thing that has come out of all of this grieving is that now I believe in God, and I did not before. I thought you would be happy to hear that! I also believe in Heaven and the afterlife, and I did not believe in that either! It makes me happy to think that Lacey is in Heaven or over the rainbow bridge and that she is happy."
 I am well aware that this subject is controversial. Its a grey area in the bible. It does not flat out, clearly say, animals go to Heaven but if you dig deep enough, like you have done, there is no doubt in my mind that our pets will be there. I always say Well, Jesus is coming back on a white horse, so that means there definitely are animals in Heaven.
God bless you and thank you for the true enlightenment and comfort you offer in your articles. No one can ever make me believe that animals just die and thats the end. No way, no how!!!!!
L.
(end of letter)
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 Dear Newspaper Columnist,
Thank you for your appreciation and encouragement! Your letter is one of those timely words in due season that we all need occasionally. Did you know that you are one of God's angels?
It is a sad time for many Americans. We cannot speak about our faith in most places anymore. But, in this stressful era when families are losing their jobs, their homes, marriages are breaking apart and people often only connect with others through a computer, God will still find us in the veterinarians office frantically hanging on to the lives of our precious pets as we cling to one of the few joyful relationships left to us. As C.S. Lewis says, "God shouts to us in our pain!"
Pets are truly a gift from God. But, when they are gone, then what? As the author of Hebrews says, "For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come" (Heb 13:14).
Nevertheless, I am confident that someday we can look forward to this:
 "The wolf and the lamb shall graze together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpents food. They shall do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain, says the LORD" (Isaiah 65:25).
I think I will have the privilege of meeting you and your friend in that lasting city with my own Daisy, Ember, Minka, Tia and Angelo, and you can introduce me to all your friends. What a joyful occasion that will be!
God bless!
Val&Ken
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