Animals

Animals

The godly are concerned for the welfare of their animals.

Proverbs 12:10

My youngest son, Jordan, came home from grade school one afternoon to discover that his favorite hamster, Ethel, had delivered fourteen babies. There was great excitement in the Elwell house that day and for some days to follow. Whether we’re talking humans or hamsters, all of God’s new creations are a marvel.

After a few weeks, the hamsters began venturing out of their nest, and we were able to see what they looked like. “Mom!” Jordan yelled from the basement one day, “Come quick! Something’s wrong with one of Ethel’s babies.” I ran downstairs. Looking into the cage, I realized that one of the threads from the nest had wrapped around the baby’s tiny toe, cutting off circulation and causing that little toe to balloon to the size of the hamster’s head. “Let’s call the vet,” I said. Medical meltdowns are not my specialty, whether they involve kids or animals.

There’s nothing like an emergency to help us appreciate another person’s professional skills. The vet snipped the thread with microscopic scissors, applied antibiotic ointment to the affected area, and—surprisingly—wrote NO CHARGE on the statement. “I didn’t have the heart to charge you anything,” she said. “Those little babies are so cute!”

I find it interesting that the God who rescued his children from drowning in the Red Sea and cared for his children like a compassionate mother tells us that we are like him when we are concerned about the welfare of our animals. What a kind God we have!

Father,

Thank you for the tender and compassionate love you show to us. Please help us to imitate you in the way we treat people and animals alike. Amen.