3:231 – Furbabies

#faithbites #faithjourney furbabies

Setting

We’re going to take a bit of a break from the very serious topics and talk about one that most of us can agree on: our furbabies. Be it cats, dogs, pigs, rats, snakes, birds, or whatever, we love our pets. They give us attention and love. They listen to us, comfort us, and help us stay connected to nature.

My wife says I’m our dog’s person. He calms me and loves me. We joke that I need to get him trained as an emotional support animal for what he does for me. I got thinking about this as he was limping a bit this afternoon. Nothing seems broken, but we are babying him for a bit then going to the doctor if it doesn’t get better. In effect, we treat them like our kids, hence “furbabies”.

God gave us dominion over all beasts. At the same time, he compares how we treat a beast to how we treat each other. We need to show love, compassion, and kindness. The way we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other. We can also learn from the animals. Everything God made has a purpose.

How do you treat your furbabies?

Scripture

• Genesis 2:18-19 – Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
• Job 12:7-10 – “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
• Revelation 5:13 – And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Reflection

From Genesis to Revelation, we see animals. God created animals to help man, for man to name them. Their help goes beyond being beasts of burden to helping with our emotional states. In Job, we see that even the animals understand who our Lord is. They declare his Goodness. If animals can see it, why do we have trouble with it sometimes? Then, in the end, we hear all the creatures saying that Jesus is Lord forever and ever.

From helping with your chores to teaching us about the magnificence of God to relieving our stress, our furbabies deserve to be admired, loved, and respected.

I wasn’t sure about getting another dog after ours passed, but now I can’t imagine not having Spock sleep with me at night. When he jumps off the bed, I worry. He knows when I’m stressed and is a calming force.

Let’s thank God for our furbabies.

Challenge

Do you have a furbaby? If not, do you recognize the importance of animals and pets? Thank the Lord for the helpers he has given us. Both the two-legged, four-legged, no legged, and winged helpers.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for giving us pets. You knew we wouldn’t be good alone so you gave us beasts of burden and beasts of love. Help us to appreciate our pets, love our pets, and understand how awesome you are that you made all of these creatures. Thank you, Lord. In your name, Amen.