3:342 – Furbabies: A Gift From God

#faithbites #faithjourney furbabies

Setting

I love animals, always have, always will. There is something about an animal companion that can make things better no matter what. Sure, they are stressful and can cause chaos, but they are our furbabies. Today’s #faithbite is on the lighter side. My wife says, our pandemic puppy, Spock, is my emotional support animal. She says that I smile more when I’m around him. He even has been sleeping with us lately as he knows I need some extra love.

God made everything on this earth, even our pets. He knew it wasn’t good for us to be alone. Do you have any furbabies in your life? How do they impact you? Do they help you in your work, life, and happiness?

Thanks be to God for our critters 🙂

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.
• 2 Samuel 12:3 – The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.

Reflection

Animals serve in all types of roles from working to emotional support to everything in between. Our two verses show some of the range of what animals can do for us. First, in Genesis, we see that God made every animal and let us name them. Why? Once you name them, you have a relation to them, a connection. It’s not a thing but a special creation. In 2 Samuel, we see a poor hungry man who could have eaten his lamb, but instead raised it with his children. This lamb was like a daughter, his furbaby.

What does this all mean? All animals more important than people? Of course not. They do have a special place in God’s creation and in our lives. My dog is intune with my feelings and needs. When he misbehaves and is corrected, he knows it. Granted, a dog is like having an eternal two year old, but we love them.

So I leave you tonight, with a warmth that comes from God and his creations. Snuggle your furbabies, be kind to them, and know that God made them for companionship.

Challenge

Toughest challenge ever! Enjoy your furbabies!

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for knowing what’s best for us. You knew we shouldn’t be alone so you made all manner of beasts to help us in our labor and our lives. We are truly blessed and thankful for having our pets, furry, scaly, slimly, and all places in between. Help us to treat them right as they are gifts from you.

Lord, we pray that you help us to love our animals, treat them fairly, and use them as you want us to. In your name, Amen.