Goodbye Chewie

A song of ascents. Of David.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
—PSALM 133

by De Quency Bowen

At the beginning of 2023, my family had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, Chewie. We were filled with sadness and tears but also relief that she would be free of her painful illness. She had been suffering from oral cancer, and we knew the right thing to do was to end her suffering. But it was impossible to envision life without Chewie. She was more than just a dog—she was our four-legged family member.

For 14 years, we had the opportunity to share our home with Chewie, and although we’re aware that a dog’s life span is short, we know that in our hearts, she will live forever.

Chewie was midnight black, a beautiful and regal Chinese shar-pei. She was a loyal, brave, funny, and intelligent companion. When my two oldest children were much younger, she would accompany them to the school bus stop in the mornings to watch them board the bus. In the afternoons, she patiently waited in the corner of our yard nearest the stop for them to return. Her wagging tail and excited expression when she saw my children exit the bus always melted my heart. Chewie knew that the afternoon would be filled with the joy of playful children running around the house and having lots of fun.

In the summer, I’d find her asleep outside basking in the sun, snoring loudly. In the fall, she’d playfully attack the leaf piles my husband and son had spent all day raking. We have many memories of our family sitting by the fireplace on a snowy day, eating popcorn and watching TV while Chewie waited for her share. Today, when we think of the times we spent with Chewie, we laugh and cry through those memories. Most importantly, we are grateful that we together cared for and loved one of God’s beautiful creations.

So, while we felt devastating grief when we had to say goodbye to our beloved dog, we were comforted by our ability as a family to feel gratitude despite it all. Above the pain and tears, we are grateful that, as a God-fearing family, we also had each other to lean on during that challenging time— because family matters.

I pray that everyone in this world will have an opportunity to share love, patience, and compassion with someone whom they care about, especially when enduring those rough periods. Life is so much better when we can unite and bring comfort to one another.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV), Paul writes, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

De Quency Bowen, executive chef at The Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory Headquarters, has a master’s in business management and leadership