•Heaven's the place where all the dogs/cats that ever loved you, will be waiting at the gate.

Recently, bad things are happening to good people in my life.  Things that I just don't understand why they are happening.  It seems every time I become happy about life, something smacks me in the face.  Whether it be a huge, twice a year tax bill, or a friend has been diagnosed with something unpleasant and is very scared about it.

Yes, sometimes bad things happen to people who seem undeserving of them. But God allows things to happen for His reasons, whether or not we understand them.  I must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, my reaction should be to trust Him. ”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Thats a good one I must remind myself of.

I like the following too:  knowing that God wants to allow us to have faith and a choice is often a cold comfort when something terrible happens in the world, to us, or someone we love -- but, it's worth remembering that we Christians believe, "Our days on earth are as transient as a shadow," while what comes afterwards is eternal. Sometimes on this side of eternity, all we can do is realize that we are going to see our share of sorrow, accept that, "God moves in mysterious ways," and keep on keeping on, secure in the knowledge that there is something better to come when this life is over.

One last thing, the pictures are of a dog that is in the care of a friend who runs a rescue shelter that recently had babies.  One is of the mom and her babies, the other is of one of the babies a few weeks later.  I share them with you because its just adorable.  Just precious.  How could there not be a God to create something this beautiful?