I absolutely love dogs. I know God gave man dominion “over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Gen 1: 26), but that doesn’t mean other creatures aren’t cared for by God. It is as much in their nature—as it is in ours—to express God’s great qualities, since He created them, too. So I had to disagree when I heard today that some people believe pets can’t be healed because they are lesser ideas of God. (more…)

Can your prayer reach an oil pipe on the sea floor? Can it protect the creatures and coastlines caught in the spreading slick? Can it strengthen the efforts of relief crews?

Yes—because effective, healing prayer isn’t asking a distant Deity to engage in a human disaster and mysteriously disentangle us from these overwhelming problems.

(more…)

I got an email from a friend of mine who was really upset. She told me, “I’ve had it up to here with all the homeless and abused animals. Malnourished, having litter after litter. I can’t take it anymore!!!!!” Then she asked me how to stop spinning out of control long enough to pray.

Boy, can I relate. I have exactly the same kind of love for animals. They can really pull at your heart. (more…)

Last summer, I got the opportunity to work in the vast landscape of Alaska.

My uncle had offered two of my cousins and me a job constructing a cabin on a speck of land about two hours north of Anchorage. During my stay, there were many instances where I felt completely protected by God’s unrelenting care. We were able to complete several projects efficiently. Also, the support I felt from my entire extended family reflected the joy and love that radiate from God. (more…)

Curly
Fuzzy
Big & small

Bouncy
Loving
Tiny
Tall

Spunky
Spastic
Crazy
Calm

The Lord our God
He made them all

Light and life
Perfect as planned
His purest love
From paw to hand

Anna - Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2007

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved snakes. When I was four, a woman in front of us in a pet store check-out line was carrying a huge snake. I started petting it because it seemed to like me.

The woman turned and started to tell my mom to keep away because the snake supposedly didn’t like strangers. When she saw that her snake was enjoying my attention, she was speechless. After that experience, I began to want a snake of my own. To me, there is something fascinating about them. I think they are very beautiful, graceful, and loving. I’ve learned in Christian Science that everything God creates expresses good and beautiful qualities.

(more…)

Anna’s Mother - Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2007

When my daughter asked for a snake for her birthday, I gulped in dread. Ever since she was a small child, she’d been fascinated with reptiles and fearless with the ones she met at petting zoos and at pet shops. I, on the other hand, had a lifelong fear of snakes and had largely managed to avoid them. One time when I found a king snake in the greenhouse of our New Mexico home, I had to call a neighbor to remove it while I hid in another room. Disturbed as I was at the thought of living with a snake, I felt that my anxiety was not a valid enough reason to turn down my daughter’s request. She’d put in many hours of research, proving herself ready and able to care for an animal. She encouraged me by writing up pages of information with pictures of the type of snake she’d selected and spoke enthusiastically about the attractive appearance and disposition of the breed she’d chosen.

(more…)