— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —
In these days of images of horror on the TV, we often see people fleeing with their pets. Why, in the midst of destruction do people bother about animals? Aren’t there more important things to worry about? We know too that senior residences often allow people to bring their pets with them. And, as an occupational therapist, I know well that pet ownership can not only prolong health but can keep aging patients cognitively fit longer. In the bible we read…
The righteous care for the needs of their animals ….
Proverbs 12:10
Kindness to animals is godly. In fact, caring for them is part of our purpose. God made us in His image “so” that we might take care of the animals. Could it be that as image bearers we most reflect God when we tend His creatures?
I got to thinking how our beagle girl, Louey, posing for her photo session above, enhances our life with her calming presence, not to mention getting us out for exercise regardless of the weather. But let’s take a deeper look into this pet metaphor. Seeing her sleeping in the chair in total confidence that we will meet her needs is how I want to feel in God’s hands.
Caring for our animals teaches us about God’s love and care for us. We care for our animals the way God cares for us and for them. His care is recorded throughout Scripture:
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
Psalm 36:6
The Lord anticipates our needs and provides for them. When I was a child and learned the 23rd Psalm, my interpretation was that, as sheep, I/we were followers. It was, for me, a statement of my faith. Now, as an adult, I smile to look at the message differently, to feel that the perspective is actually God’s and the promise He offers me.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalm 23
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the path of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
For you are with me;
your rod and your staff-
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of
The Lord
My whole life long.
Like our Louey trusts that, every day at 3 pm, she will get her dinner, I plan to sit back and trust that, whatever is before me, the Lord has my back.
Join me.
The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.
Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.
We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.
Freiburg Anglican Church 
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