Pets Are Blessings

Throughout my life pets have been like family. From countless dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs to two horses, animals have been central to my well-being. Why is that for some of us? Why do our pets give us such joy and comfort?? 

I think S.t Francis of Assisi can give us some insight. We tend to tie St. Francis with animals and creation. Though known for many things, S.t Francis was named patron of ecology by Pope John Paul II in 1979. St. Francis, through his simplicity of life and love for all, offers a model for living that invites us to care for earth and all that dwells on it. St. Francis’ vision of kinship expands the meaning of Matthew’s Gospel command, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…. You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37-39). Our neighbor is everyone, every creature, plant and element.

Francis believed that all creatures are brothers and sisters to us. We are all part of creation and that it is ALL good. We are a part of one family.  Francis even went further to imply that animals are part of God’s plan for salvation. Some might argue that animals have no souls, free will or the saving grace of baptism to warrant salvation, but I know otherwise. I think Francis did too.

I had a yellow lab named Sam who loved to sleep under a hydrangea bush in my yard.  Despite attempts to shoo her away, put up a garden fence, etc., Sam continued to lie there, under the bush, breaking off limbs day by day. This unnerved me to no end as I was trying to nourish this stubborn plant to bloom.  One day Sam became very ill and later died that afternoon from a ruptured tumor. My family was devastated and I cried myself to sleep that night. The very next morning, I walked outside to get my kids on the bus and there it was…a single bloom on the hydrangea bush. Sam was ok. Sam was and is in heaven. Sam is with God.  She had to let me know. Never again did that bush bloom as long as I lived in that house.  Tell me animals are not a part of God’s heavenly Kingdom.

St Francis knew the unconditional love that our pets have for us. How no matter how bad our day is, we can expect to get a sloppy kiss from our dog or a rub and purr from our cat. God is working through our pets to show us examples of this love and compassion so that we might do the same for others. What is it they say?  “Only to be half as wonderful as my pet thinks I am.”

Come out Monday to experience the love from our pets with the “Doggies in the Dell” from 3-5 p.m. and then participate in the blessing of the animals in honor of St. Francis’ feast day at 5:15 p.m. Sam will be there in spirit, I’m sure!

Kaky