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The Christmas season is rapidly approaching. Christmas is the giving time of year; charity and thinking of those less fortunate are popular Christmas themes. Too bad that people feel that he poor and hungry and homeless only need our thoughtfulness and generosity once a year. All living creatures, whether destitute people or our domesticated animals, have needs that must be met all year round, not just at the holiday season. Some of these needs are tangible items such as water, food and shelter from the weather. Other needs of both man and his beasts are intangible; companionship, affection, a kind work, and relief from pain and suffering. The advantage that the poorest, hungriest human beings have over our four-footed friends is the ability to express themselves verbally so that others understand what they feel and think.
I am comparing and contrasting human being to animals because an animal is not any less of a living creature with basic needs than a human being is. Because animals cannot express themselves nor can they provide for themselves, they are like babies; we as the caretakers must anticipate and perceive their needs and desire. We must put ourselves in their place and be empathetic to their feelings.
Would you want to drink old rank water that has been sitting in a dirty pail in the sun for 3 days or would you like fresh water daily to quench your thirst? When you are hungry to you want an old bone to chew on that gives you splinters in your guts or would you want nutritious fresh food to satisfy your hunger? If you are pregnant or nursing or working hard would you want to lose weight and body condition from not eating properly, or would you like supplemental food and vitamins to maintain your weigh and health? If you or any member of your family is sick or in pain or injured do you wait for the individual to get sicker and weaker before calling the doctor, or would you want o be taken for medical attention and pain relief as soon as possible?
Would you like to be tied up or locked up day after day without the benefit of exercise and some companionship or would you need daily walks and some kind words and a pat on the back? When it is hot do you want to be left without shade and fresh water to suffer heat stoke or would you want to be able to escape the heat and have cool water to quench your thirst? When it is windy or rainy or cold do you want to be left outside to get sick and possibly get frostbite, or would you want to have a house or shed in which to escape from the weather and to warm and protect yourself?
Please think about giving the animals that God has entrusted to you care the same considerations that you give yourself and those in your family for whom you are responsible. Animals need water, food, medical attention, exercise, companionship, love, and value of need all of these. Animals are property; some are used for work, some for sport, some for food, and some for pleasure. No matter what the use of the living creature, please take time during the season for reflection and thoughtfulness to consider the animals in your life. Make a New Year’s resolution to treat your fellow living creatures as you would want to be treated yourself. Remember the verse: All Creatures Bright and Beautiful, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and Wonderful, The Lord God Made Them All.
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