by Judy Hensley-James

Created on: August 25, 2009

Showing God's Love

I think caring for pets is a way of showing God's love. Even Jesus is referred to as the Lamb in the Bible and there are other animals mentioned, too. For instance, Jesus was born in a stable built for horses and donkeys. Many of us love our pets. Thinking about this idea, God's love and pets seems silly yet that is an issue come to mind. At Halloween the pets we have seem a bit strange and unlovable - unloving. There are bats, wolves, black cats, spiders...you get it. So how does God's love fit into a picture like this? Many people have rare or unusual pets. Or, they dress their pets up to resemble people or other creatures. The pets you have can be a means of self expression. Some people are more accepting and have a broader definition than others of what exactly is a pet. I had some of this in mind when I wrote the poem:

Complexions of Trust

The complexion of trust comes to you asks of you

Feels you really know and you do. So you speak deliberately

Thoughtfully into those eyes, remember? Remember how she smiled?

And the little one was given more than he could handle and yet held on

And climbed the steps high as his waist. His laughter shouts of pure joy.

Have you seen it in the creatures, too? Those who fly overhead know you

Though they rarely speak, you are the other -

Those that roam, climb in trees, live under rocks (and hop)

Respond when you spend the time.

Will come for food from your hand.

I know of people who have pet spiders, too. Some have tarantulas. A woman I know refuses to tear spider webs in the yard because to her they are friendly. She does not keep them as inside pets, though. We once had a garden snake in a dry fish tank that had babies and we let them go in the woods. When he was much younger, my brother had a white rat named Lucy who sat on his shoulder and watched TV. And there was the turtle that lived next door. He liked grapes and spinach leaves, had a name and would come to his friendly keeper. Some people prefer ordinary pets best like cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and parrots just because they are more familiar.

In heaven God has Creatures around Him; you will find this written in the book of Revelation. ( Rev. 14:3, New American Standard: "And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.")These are His pets to my way of thinking. Paul wrote of seeing creatures around the Throne praising God and loving Him so maybe they are not like our pets but with much, much greater compassionate love. I don't know, but I do know creatures are reported to live in Heaven and He loves them, too.

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