Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm doing a service at my church on the Spiritual value of animals in our lives, and I'm doing a little bit of research on the subject. Anyone want to give me their input?

As a person who lives with pets, and who feeds every bird in the neighborhood, I have an intentional connection to animals. They bring great joy to my life, both in my home and in the wild. They are beautiful, they are fun, they are innocent, they improve our physical health (provided we are not allergic!) and well-being. They love us unconditionally, they don't need caffeine or other drugs to cope, and they reflect our own moods. But what do they do for our Spirit?

I believe they foster a sense of hope, and help us recover from pain that is scientifically immeasurable (grief, abuse, lonliness, etc.). I also believe in the connection between mind, body, and Spirit, so it follows that I believe all that animals do for us improves us Spiritually *because* it improves the whole person.

Would anyone like to give me their thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance.
Patricia

My faith has been strengthened by God's answering prayers and taking care of my animals. No matter what, there has always been money for their needs, without going into debt and without electing to forego treatment. Over and over in my life I have seen God provide for my animals.

I am now partnered with an assistance dog to aid me with disabilities, and until early this year I was a volunteer therapy dog handler for 19 1/2 years. In that time I had 5 therapy dogs. I retired from the volunteer job for health reasons. People often wanted to talk about spiritual things, and the dogs made that conversation relaxed and natural. It still happens when I'm out with an assistance dog, which in some ways is a lot more public contact than therapy dog visits.

Companion animals provide a great deal of comfort, and they also often alert and otherwise aid people in times of crisis. I think God uses them in this way. I have also had experiences with wildlife that illustrated for me a message from God. Usually this happens by calling to mind for me something that is also in the Bible.

For many of us, especially if we did not have happy childhood experiences with our own parents and/or do not have children of our own, companion animals give us a better picture of what it means that "God is Love." The way we feel about our animals is for some of us the most basic form of love in our lives. This helps us to more fully realize what God's love means, the power and purity of it.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thank you so much for your input. It will help me very much in my Sermon this coming Sunday (I'm not a minister; our services are lay-lead in the summer). I will let you know how it goes.

Thank you again!

well,a thing came up while I was talking to this area leader of Ridgeback Rescue inc(she's taking Gerty when heartworm treatments are done),it started out as a bitter comment,but it can be turned around too,God didn't make dogs,we did,S/He made wolves,and we went from there to make companion animals out of them,because of selective breeding from original desighns,we've made an animal that humans can neglect far more than they can turn on/neglect us