Good, in the five+ years since we sent our Fi on her eternal life of pure love, I have had plenty of time to ponder things, being fully retired and all. I began to write her Story so that my nephew's son will understand what a profound impact she had on my life - both physically and spiritually. Writing that led me to reflect on my past pets and describing to him how much they meant to me. It was through that reflection that I came to realize God and Jesus have blessed me my entire life - I just hadn't recognized them. Being an analyst by trade, I connected "dots". There were a whole lot of "dots" in my life and reflecting on it drove home that God and Jesus have a plan, that we have some free choice in some cases, and each choice brings with it a new branch or sequel: all leading to something wonderful should we choose wisely. Some of those "branches and sequels" resulted from things where there really wasn't a "choice", and our Fi was one: we hadn't seeked her out (or her little buddy Scruffy), but she was presented to us at a time I was most in need of His love. Long story, and perhaps I'll PM you with it, but suffice it to say that God provided us (me) with Fi during a time of my greatest need and despair. It was totally unexpected but, looking back, it was "here, you're going to need her love for the next several years". He was right!
I thank God and Jesus every day, several times a day, for their many blessings current and past. My tears of grief over my Fi have gradually become tears of gratitude. The irony is not lost on me: when Fi was with us, she loved licking my face; smudging my glasses; now my glasses require even more cleaning, but it is on the inside of the lens now, where my tears of gratitude land.
My greatest Teaching is here and personal.