Animals and their carers have been on my mind a lot recently. Perhaps it is because we recently lost our dog of fifteen years, and I miss him so much; perhaps it is because I’ve recently had the pleasure of getting to know a dear horse whose owner is kind enough to share him with me; perhaps it’s because of visiting Wimpole’s Home Farm where the pens and paddocks have been filled with skipping, bleating new life and enthusiastic volunteers who care for them.
There’s a reward that comes from looking after animals which we are happy to pay the price for! We love to see their eyes light up as we spend time with them; we love the wag and the woof, the miaow and the purr, the whinny or the bleat that greet us when we see them again after even a short absence.
There’s a story which really hits the nail on the head about those who love animals: a family were going on holiday, and asked their neighbour’s nine-year-old son if he would mind taking care of the family dog. They explained that the job would require feeding, grooming, walking, and spending plenty of time playing with the dog, whilst giving her lots of love. After covering the job description, they asked what the job would be worth to him. The little boy replied, without hesitation, “I’ll give you fifty pounds to look after your dog!”
Well, this is just how I see the love that God has for each of us – a love that he showed through his Son, Jesus. I can imagine a similar conversation between God and Jesus in Heaven. “Son, my people need looking after. They need teaching, healing, forgiveness, endless love and guidance to find their way back to me. Will you take it on? What is this job worth to you?” And instead of asking for anything in return, Jesus replied, “I’ll give my life to look after your people.”
Why did he do that? Do you remember that well-known nursery rhyme, ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’? The final verse is not often recited, but it says it all:
‘What makes the lamb love Mary so?’
The eager children cry.
‘Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you know,’
The teacher did reply.
That reciprocal love is open to all of us. It’s the love of a Good Shepherd who knows the grief, pain, and loneliness that can overwhelm us, and offers us loving arms to rest in. And as our animals know when we take them in our arms, it’s not a bad place to be!
Fiona Davis, Licensed Lay Minister