Thought for the Week

I felt inspired this week to write about our pets and animals we so dearly love.  Us Brits are real animal lovers.  We only need to look at the facts in front of us to see this.  According to animalmedical.org 94% of pet owners say their animal makes them smile more than once a day. Owning a dog may decrease heart disease-related death by 36% (Petpedia)! We only need to watch Britain’s Got Talent to see how popular the acts are with animals - with Pudsey the dog winning in 2012.

In my family, Bessie our Labrador joined us 3 years ago and she is such a joy to have with us.  She does make us smile more than once a day.  She cheers us up if we’ve had a bad day.  Gets us out of the house to walk her and exercise.  If the children have had a bad day with friendships at school, she is always there as a comfort.

Pets bring unconditional love to us.  An assurance and comfort that impacts our wellbeing and brings a positivity to our lives.  Our animals are a gift from God.

Job 12:7-10. New Revised Standard Version Update. 7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; 8 ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?

So much so that we have animals as a form of therapy - as a means of therapeutic intervention to support social, emotional or cognitive functioning.  Animals are used in hospitals, hospices, schools, care homes, mental health units and psychological clinics.  We also have Guide Dogs for the Blind which have been assisting people with visual impairment for years.  

In our Youth Alpha sessions Reverend Anna hosted this year, our group of young people were enamoured by Anna’s dog Bruce, and to see how the young people were so visibly comforted by his attentive love was a real joy.

The Lord has blessed us in abundance with these wonderful animals.  May we enjoy these gifts of love and may our understanding of this love be remembered in our hearts and most of all offered and demonstrated to our neighbours today.

Amen.

St Albright’s Church is hosting a Family Communion with Pet Blessing on Sunday, 7th August at 10.30am.  You are all very welcome with your fluffy bundles of love.