Our little kitty, Max, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

Part of the pain is that we never saw it coming.

It’s amazing how such a small little creature—yes, Max was on the small side for a cat—could make you feel as though someone taped a grenade to your chest and pulled the pin. The heartache, the tears, the sadness… this is the price we pay for loving one of God’s little furry treasures.

I’m writing because I need to heal.

Our pets give us unconditional love, laughter, comfort, and companionship. They become woven into our daily lives until we can’t imagine a day without them. Then, one day, life hands us a final notice—a painful reminder that every life that crosses our path must eventually be returned to its Creator.

Why does it have to hurt so much?

Perhaps the pain serves a purpose. Maybe it reminds us just how fragile life really is. Maybe it teaches us to love deeply every single day and never assume there will always be another tomorrow.

I miss you, Max.

I hope, in some way beyond my understanding, that you know how much Mom and I miss you. I know you never meant to break our hearts. This is simply a journey that every living creature must make.

If I could change one thing about this world, it would be that none of us would ever have to walk that road.

We gave our little cherub one final bath and prepared him for burial. It was one last act of love for a family member who had given us so much joy.

I’ll admit it—I was scared. The last time I lost one of my animals, I wasn’t myself for over three months. Right now I’m hurting. I’m angry. I’m grieving. I’m a 260-pound man crying like a little kid who scraped his knee on the playground.

And that’s okay.

Because grief is simply love with nowhere left to go.

Max was a character.

He ran through the house like a wild man, getting the zoomies at the most unexpected times. All you had to do was look into his eyes and you knew he was about to get into trouble. Sometimes he could be aggravating, but today I would give almost anything to watch him tear through the house just one more time.

Thank you, Max, for every laugh, every smile, every purr, and every moment of companionship you gave us.

You may have only been here for a part of our lives, but to you, we were your entire life.

You were loved beyond measure.

You always will be.

Rest in peace, little buddy.