Free to a Good Home
The summer heat has arrived in full force. It can be exhausting for lots of reasons, including cleaning up after a shedding Corgi. I swear that fur falls out of Tillie with every exhale. There’s no sneaking around for this girl right now. She literally leaves fur in her tracks wherever she goes.
Obviously cleaning up dog hair can be exhausting and it was certainly a deterrent in us getting her. But I can’t help but think about all we would have missed out on if we would have let this keep us from getting her, or keep us from enjoying her.
The role that animals (even furry ones) play in overall human health is well documented. Studies show that people with a dog or cat have lower resting heart rates and blood pressure during stressful situations. Companion animals have been shown to lower anxiety in children and keep older adults more active. They provide company and reduce feelings of isolation.
In this world broken by sin, pets often show us the unconditional love we so desire. Somehow, they mysteriously connect us to Genesis 1 world, where all was right with the world and all of God’s creation was in perfect harmony. In doing so, they give us hope of a time when all the brokenness will be restored.
Pets also give us a picture of God’s deep loyalty to us. Tillie is a lover. She loves pretty much every person and dog she meets. But there is one person she loves best and we all know it. Wherever Matt is, there is Tillie. She is always by his side. What a beautiful picture of how God cares for and desires us.
Pets remind us of God’s joy in us. I love Tillie’s excitement when I come home for the day. Her ears go back, she runs in little circles and starts to talk to me. It pales only to the cuteness she shows to Matt when he comes home! I imagine this is a similar joy that God experiences every time we choose to come home to him; to sit down and enjoy the gift of His presence.
Finally, Tillie reminds me that all good and perfect gifts are from Him. (James 1:17) As I’ve written previously, Tillie’s journey from Purdy, MO to us is an unlikely one, dirty with God’s beautiful fingerprints. God created the animals and all of creation to point to His glory, to connect us to his goodness and to experience his love.
Whether it’s spending time with our pets, seeing the magnificence in the sunrise or pondering the enormity of the solar system, my prayer is that we can see it all as a gift from Him to be enjoyed.
And since I’ve posted a picture of my pet, I’d love for you to post a picture of what connects you to God’s creation. Let’s have some fun with this and inspire others along the way.