Much to be learned from animals

I am always amazed at the many blessings and gifts God has bestowed upon mankind. I am also fascinated with Adam’s intelligence in being able to name every animal.

“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” (Genesis 2:19 KJV)

With three lively sons, we had our share of pets. Guess who fed them? I did.

Yet I became attached to all the pets we had while the boys were growing up. I can’t count the dogs we had.

Blacky had a real problem. The lightning and thunder scared him so, he tore down the back door trying to get in the house.

Bear gnawed Emmitt’s trailer wires into shreds.

We bought each son a rabbit one Easter. We awakened one morning to see a back yard that looked like it had rained rabbits. Biscuits played with them too hard and the boys tried to give him a spanking. It didn’t work out.

Lady, Emmitt’s horse, didn’t know she was a horse. Instead of a horse whisperer, she was a horse loud-talker. We had a strong sandstorm one day that made the tin over her stall rattle. She talked to me in her loudest whinny. She wouldn’t eat in her stall. Her fear was evident. I moved her trough out of the stall and she began to eat peacefully. She trusted her master.

Our tomcat became a tiger on the vet’s cold steel table, but when he felt the touch of my hand, he relaxed and began to purr. He knew who his master was.

Emmitt found seven little lost sheep on our porch one night. He led them to the back yard and enclosed them safely until he could find the owner. They followed him everywhere as he became their shepherd for a while.

I learned a lot from animals. I need to know my Master too.

We can find many scriptures in the Bible for kindness to animals.

• “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest …” (Exodus 23:12 NIV)

• “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” (Deuteronomy 25:4 NIV)

• “If you find a bird’s nest by the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting on the young birds or eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young birds. You may take the young birds, but you must let the mother bird go free.” (Deuteronomy 22:6 NCV)

The mother bird had known freedom.

• “Good people take care of their animals, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10 NCV)

I believe we will see our pets in heaven. Isaiah 11:6-9 tells it all: “In that day the wolf and the lamb will lie down together, and the leopard and goats will be at peace. Calves and fat cattle will be safe among lions, and a little child shall lead them all.” (TLB)

I am looking forward to Jesus coming on a white horse. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True …” (Revelation 19:11 NIV)

What a day that will be.