People often feel more sadness over the loss of their pet than nearly anything else that they ever experience. Some think this pain is illogical and ill placed, for there are so many other important aspects to life that must surely be more important than your pet. “He suffered more over the death of his dog than when his own dear father died,” they have said.

The more you want something, the more you suffer when you focus upon the absence of it. But the pain you are feeling over the death of your dog is not because of the absence of your dog—it is much bigger than that.

Your dog represented Pure, Positive Energy to you. Your dog remained, throughout his entire life, as you were when you were first born: an extension of Pure, Positive Energy. And often, through your attention to your dog and your interaction with your dog, you were inspired more to your own Connection with Source. So while of course you miss your dog, what you are really missing is the Connection to your own Source Energy that your dog inspired.

• Your dog loved you as you are and did not ask you to be different.
• Your dog did not hold you responsible for his happiness.
• Your dog did enjoy being with you but never suffered in your absence, for his joy was not dependent upon your behavior.
• Your dog neither anticipated nor feared death, but understood the Eternal nature of his Being.

We cannot say any of these things about your father.

If we were standing in your physical shoes, we would focus upon the uplifting feeling that you so often felt in the company of your dog. Remember his eagerness to go with you for a walk. Remember his enthusiasm to chase a bird or a squirrel. Remember his peaceful demeanor as he lay on the floor with his head on his paws. And as you relax back into the good-feeling memory of the attitude of your dog, you will come back into alignment in the same way you used to when he was in the room with you. And then, if you like, the Universe will deliver another dog to replace him. If you are willing to do the work, you could attract a new puppy who will not chew on your shoes.