Emily had been volunteering at the local animal shelter for a few months now. She loved working with the animals, and it gave her a sense of purpose to help those who couldn't help themselves. One day, a little girl named Lily came in with her dog, Max.

Max was an older dog, and he was very sick. The veterinarian at the shelter determined that Max needed to be put down to end his suffering. Lily was devastated. Max had been her constant companion since she was a baby, and she couldn't imagine life without him.

Emily watched as Lily cried and hugged Max tightly. She knew all too well the pain of losing a loved one. She walked over to Lily and put her hand on her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Lily," Emily said softly. "I know how much Max means to you."

Lily looked up at Emily with tears in her eyes. "I don't know what to do without him," she said.

Emily knelt down next to Lily and put her arm around her. "I understand how you feel. Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things to go through. But you know what helps me when I'm feeling sad?"

"What?" Lily asked, sniffling.

"Reading the Bible. There's a verse in the book of Psalms that says, 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' That means that when we're feeling sad, God is with us and he will help us through it."

Lily looked up at Emily with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Emily said, smiling. "And you know what else? When I was your age, I lost my little brother. It was really hard for me, too. But you know what my parents did to help me through it?"

"What?" Lily asked, her interest piqued.

"They told me stories about my brother, and we looked at pictures of him together. We remembered all the good times we had with him, and it made me feel better. So why don't we do the same for Max?"

Emily and Lily spent the next hour looking at pictures of Max and sharing stories about all the good times they had with him. By the time Lily left, she was still sad, but she was also comforted by the knowledge that God was with her and that she had good memories to hold onto.

As Emily left the animal shelter that day, she thought about the verse she had shared with Lily. She knew that it was true, and that God was always with her, even in the midst of pain and loss.

Relevant Bible Verse: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18

If you have lost a loved one, remember that God is with you and that he loves you. It's okay to feel sad and to grieve, but know that you're not alone. Reach out to friends and family for support, and don't be afraid to seek professional help if you need it. The National Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and there is also a 24/7 prayer line at 1-866-273-4444. Take comfort in knowing that God is with you, and that one day, you will be reunited with your loved one in heaven.