Bennie passed away today

[rodheadlee]

He was loved by all. He was 7 years 5 months old. They found him at the top of the ramp to the docks. His ticker just gave out, perhaps helped by a spider bite. This was his favorite sleeping position. He was a really intelligent cat. He had bad hips, a heart murmur and a huge overbite but he was the happiest cat on the block. Every blade of grass, every creature, every bug was something to be inspected and considered. He could tell when we took a different route to dad's house from Mexico. He will be greatly missed and our hearts are broken.

[sheilauk]

I’m so sorry for your loss.  My sincere sympathies, I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet.

[rodheadlee]

His sister will miss him too.

[Tacenda]

Condolences Rod, what a beautiful lil' love bug. I'm sorry for your loss. 

[bluebell]

I'm so sorry Rod.  That's such a hard thing.

[manol]

I am so sorry you lost such a close friend Rod. 

[rodheadlee]

Thanks for the kind words. My question is do we have to make it to the Celestial Kingdom to see ourr pets again or will we see him again if we only make it to the Terrestrial Kingdom?

[manol]

12 hours ago, rodheadlee said:

Thanks for the kind words. My question is do we have to make it to the Celestial Kingdom to see ourr pets again or will we see him again if we only make it to the Terrestrial Kingdom?

Of course we will see them again! 

Our associations in the next life are based on Natural Affinity. 

Nor need you wait until then to be present to Bennie.  You remember what his presence feels like, his "energy" if you will, right?  Align your energy (your feelings, your felt sense) with that, and you will be in the same "space" as him to some extent, even though you (probably) won't see him.

"Presence" on the other side is not so much "geographic" as it is "energetic" in nature.  "Presence" is more about tuning in your intention, your spirit's "antenna" if you will, to the person or group or state of being or level that you desire to experience, rather than about physical proximity.   Go into the highest and purest and most no-strings-attached love you are able to at this time and that's where you can "tune in" to Bennie or whoever or whatever you desire, to the extent that it is possible at this time.

Down here the closest analog I can think of is unconditional love plus focused intention.  Some aspects of the Endowment Ceremony, towards the end, can be interpreted as pointing in this direction. 

In my opinion.

Edited August 4, 2022 by manol

[bsjkki]

I'm so sorry. So tough to lose a beloved pet. 

[Kenngo1969]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Rod.  I know I can't understand your (and others') pain, and in no way do I wish to minimize it, but I would focus on the positive influence your kitty has had on you and others you love in your lives and and encourage you to have faith that, whatever happens, that influence will continue in the next.

I think we tend to get too wrapped up in where we are versus where we think we need to be, especially when it comes to determining how our actions here might influence our position in the hereafter, and especially since the Atonement will remove, instantly, so many of the things that were such great stumbling blocks to us here, provided that we do our best to continue faithful.

All of us have fallen, and will fall ... again and again and again.  We might wonder, given the seeming futility of our journey in light of how much we fall, if, indeed, it really is worth it to continue to try to press forward.  Our task simply is to pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off and try again ... and as long as we do that once more than we fall, through Christ (and, in the end, only through Christ) can we claim the victory over all that vexed us here in mortality.  Christ, in His Grace, in His Mercy, and in His Infinite Love, truly is Mighty to Save.  The journey, along with all of the continuing discovery and growth that such a continuation implies, continues in the hereafter.

As Joseph Smith said:

Quote

“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.”²³

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/chapter-22?lang=eng

23.  History of the Church, 6:306–7; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Apr. 7, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, Thomas Bullock, and William Clayton

P.S.:  As someone who is no stranger to limitations, Bennie, with all of his limitations, and with all of the pluckiness he demonstrated in spite of those limitations, sounds like a kitty after my own heart.

Edited August 5, 2022 by Kenngo1969

[Stargazer]

Sorry to hear this! I'm a cat lover, and I know what kind of hole they can leave when they go, and what kind of hold they can have on your heart.

R.I.P. Bennie!

Our little tabby girl, Caramel:

Edited August 11, 2022 by Stargazer