Happy Saturday, Digital Neighbors! I pray that your week has been a good one and that this weekend holds the promise of rest and renewal as it unfolds.

I think of all the pets I’ve had over the years — numerous dogs and cats, ferrets, tropical fish, and wildlife that I usually kept for a summer and then released if it survived the challenges of unintentional imprisonment. I think of the countless hours observing life in a pond, birds at the feeder, or too many bugs to imagine. This summer I saw antlion traps for the first time — and even watched one catch an ant. I always looked for them in my childhood but never saw any.

Creation is amazing, and I often think of the One responsible for its unfolding wonder. That idle time spent with pets, observing wildlife, or simply being closer to nature is so good for my heart and soul. I hope you have your own places of renewal — whether prayer, music, nature, or some other art — that help you rediscover the wonder and awe of being alive.

BLESSINGS

Lord, thank you for blessing our lives with animals.
Tender of heart and pure in soul,
They touch us in so many ways.
Commitment, unconditional love, faith, and forgiveness,
Inherent traits never questioned nor compromised,
Yet shared and bequeathed freely
Upon any and all who offer them the same.
It is with animals that we are taught tolerance and diversity,
For their uniqueness serves to brighten our existence.
They are an incomparable gift from God,
One that we open and rediscover daily,
Showing us how to make the world a little better,
And our society a bit more humane. Lord, thank you for blessing our lives with animals. For it is within these divine creatures that we rediscover
the true meanings of your teachings and infinite wisdom. – Heather Berry