All of God's Creatures

All of God’s Creatures

Eileen Renders

   I believe we all have a few animal stories we could share that are interesting. Some years ago, we befriended a pregnant hawk, and we fed her chicken livers in the front yard. She left one day, and I didn’t see her for a while. But she returned some weeks later, screeching loudly over my head to get my attention. I looked up, and she proudly flew over my head with a little hawk on either side of her.

  There was a time when I was managing an Apartment Complex, and there were 3-buildings on the grounds that were surrounded by woods. As the Manager, I was the only one allowed to have my dog. An 86-pound female Shepherd. One day, as I walked with her, she stopped suddenly and spread her legs to hold me back behind her. I did not understand and said, “Greta, let’s go.” She did not move; I bent down a bit to see what was wrong. Her fangs were out, and she was frothing like a fountain out of her mouth. I followed her stare and saw what had her attention.  

   In the woods, just a bit diagonal from us stood a huge man ready to run out at me, and his eyes were rolling in his head. To say I was scared does not describe the fear I felt, I thought it was my last day on earth at 28 years old. My dog was 86 pounds, he was at least 240 pounds! Greta stood her ground while I froze, I just couldn’t move. When the man realized I saw him, and my dog was ready to die for me if it came to that point, she would have. Yet he recognized in his out-of-mind condition that Greta would not give up easily, it was him or her. Suddenly, he turned on one foot and headed back into the woods. I could breathe once again, and there were n words to convey my thanks and gratitude to my dog.

   Animals can speak and convey words and acts of love and loyalty. We can learn a lot from them. They are creatures made by God and deserve our help, love and support. They have many times shown people that they are intelligent, and deserve our respect.

   Often, I have seen how childless couples find love and companionship with their pets. It is good to remember God made all creatures, and they were all made for a reason. I always loved seeing paintings of Jesus hold a baby lamb. Sometimes, some of us are slow in appreciating all the many things that God created for our joy.