Life and Death

My oldest loves his pets. They are his passion. When one dies, tears flow, and one of the hardest aspects of life is learned. Last night we said good-bye to the corn snake. The corn snake was the latest addition to his collection. He first laid his hands on it Christmas morning, and handled this snake almost everyday. As much as he loves animals, he is paticularly drawn to snakes. Why? I have no idea, but there is a connection that is almost palpable. Since first grade he has said that he wanted to be a herpetologist. His teacher at the time did not even know what that was, so he calmly explained that this was a person who studied reptiles. Certainly not a normal response from a first grader, but to him, anyone that doesn't like reptiles has a lack of appreciation for one of God's greatest gifts. This is not his first loss, but is the first snake to have passed. A tough lesson, but one he understands. It is difficult to say good-bye. Today the snake will be buried. Tonight the sadness will begin to slowly fade away. Another example of how we need to appreciate each day in its entirity, as we too often find ourselves wishing we had lived our lives differently after we are forced to say good-bye.