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How Pets Enrich Our Lives
God often uses animals to teach us more about relating to Him.
By: Whitney Hopler
Sharing your lap with a cat, playing catch with your dog, watching your fish
swim and listening to your bird sing are more than just ways to have fun. They
can be spiritual experiences, too, in the sense that they can help you learn more
about relating to the God who made the animals you love.
Here are some ways pets can help you to grow closer to God...
- Pets model unconditional love. Your dog is always available to shower you
with affection. Your guinea pig sees beyond your faults. Pets give you a taste of
what it's like to be completely accepted and embraced-the way God loves you.
- Pets help you develop patience. Cleaning out a fish tank or training a dog
not to jump on your furniture can be a time-consuming and frustrating task. But when
you take the time, you begin to learn how to wait patiently, as God sometimes requires
you to do.
- Pets teach you compassion. Caring for an injured or neglected animal who
depends on your generosity helps you to learn how to serve others and
appreciate the many ways God has compassion on you.
- Pets show you what it looks like to trust. Your rabbit trusts that you will
provide the food she needs every day; your iguana trusts that you won't let
him fall when you balance him on your arm. God wants you to grow to trust
Him more every day.
- Pets help you enjoy life more. Their enthusiasm and humorous antics add
joy to your life and encourage you to celebrate the life God has given you.
- Pets inspire you to use your time well, living fully in the present. Pets lives are
usually more brief than ours. The time you can share with them is a time to treasure,
not to waste. Even though your life span is longer, God wants you to treasure every day
as a precious gift.
- Pets teach you how to grieve. After they die, you'll miss their companionship,
but if you turn to God, He will help you to overcome the pain. And the memories you have
will live on, blessing you each time you recall them.
- Pets model loyalty. Your dog can be fiercely faithful to you, displaying a sense
of commitment that God longs for you to have in your relationship with Him (the only One who
is truly worthy of pure devotion)
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