Death of an evangelist

He wasn’t pretentious. He wasn’t pushy. He was loyal and kind, always playful, only occasionally snappy. He led my brother to Jesus and neighborhood lassies to distraction. His name was Rimshot, christened by my brother, Micah, after watching the movie Ernest Goes to Jail. On September 11, 2006, while much of the world remembered the terrible events of 5 years ago, our family mourned the passing of our Jack Russell terrier.

No one will miss him more than Chris, who, at 20 years old, cried when the vet put Rimshot down on Monday, relieving him of painful, arthritic old age. My family adopted my brother Chris when he was 8-years-old and from the moment he met Rimshot the two were inseparable. Chris was born with FAS and is blessed with a sweet angelic simplicity that defies this guile-filled world. Rimshot understood him, soaked up his rough-house hugs and loyally sat near him for hours while Chris drove toy cars through the dirt.

On Halloween one year Chris wanted to dress up like Jesus and insisted on taking his picture with his best friend Rimshot dressed as a disciple perhaps? But this was not the height of Chris’ supernaturally sweet connection with our dog. One afternoon my mom was sitting in the backyard with Chris, sharing about Jesus and how much He loved him. After talking for a while, their conversation went something like this:

Mom – So, Chris would you like to ask Jesus into your heart?
Chris – I already did
Mom-(somewhat puzzled at this statement) Oh really, you already asked Jesus in to your heart?
Chris- Yeah
Mom -Who prayed with you?
Chris – (With child-like innocence) Rimshot
My mom-( trying to stifle her shock and amusement )– Rimshot, the dog?
Chris – Yeah

My mom then proceeded to try and explain that it might be a good idea to pray with a person, because… well…. Rimshot was a dog ( she wasn’t sure she had heard of an ordained dog before, and what if Rimshot’s theology wasn’t straight, was Chris really saved?)

Mom- “Maybe I should pray with you”
This thoroughly miffed Chris, who looked down at his lap with much huffing and puffing

Mom- What’s wrong Chris?
Chris, Clearly seeing mom mom did not undertand, said with utter exasperation, ‘ I ALREADY prayed with RIMSHOT !'

So my mom released all idealistic, motherly dreams of being the one to lead her sweet son to Jesus, and let him go back to playing in the backyard with our evangelist dog.


And that is how I know that my dog is going to heaven…