Animals
Animals
Friends were "amused" that amidst the piles of assignments and readings, I can still create a blog and lock in entries daily (well, the blog is still fresh, so is the enthusiasm =). Well, writing helps me de-stress, I mean, besides writing theological papers which "stresses" me =)
I said I will write on animals if I have the time =) so here am I ...
Animals are lovely - well, at least for me, dogs and cats. Many people like dogs because they are the most loyal friends you can ever have, while some like cats because they have "character". Well, I have both - 2 doggies and 1 cat. They are simply the love of my life - I never fail to get cheered up by them whenever I come home tired and weary. When they wag their tails (I mean, my dogs) I just can't refuse to give them a pat on their head or play along with them for a while - their looks and their enthusiasm towards you just steals your heart away ... As for my cat, haha, you will never believe that it's now "behaving" like a dog - after being with his 2 "siblings" for so long. Whenever he sees me playing with the other 2, he will find his way to squeeze in and get me to pat and stroke him too. They can get jealous too! Watch it!
Besides being lovely, animals are therapeutic too. Sometimes when I'm really not in the mood to play with them no matter how they "plead" with me, they would just sit around me, giving me that "Are you ok? You look troubled, and I'm sad that you are. Can I share your problems with you?" look. They can't talk but the way they look at you just make you feel that you don't have to shoulder all your problems alone. They might not be able to help in any way, but their presence is there to assure you that you are not alone.
Animals help to keep you alert too - at least that's what I kept telling mum whenever she grumbles that all we do is play with the "kiddies", while she has to cook their meals, feed them, clear their daily business, etc. In any case, she has to agree with me that with them, she is kept occupied, and prevented from going senile =P Thanks, mum.
On the flip side, it is emotionally very draining when your "kiddies" are not well, or when it comes to a point that it's time for them to leave you. I lost count of how many buckets of tears I've shed when I lost my white mice, my rabbit, and my previous 2 doggies. I really cried! Somehow, everyone of them left me fond memories that I felt so hard to forget and let go. But the ironical thing is that though I know the strain of these emotional attachments and that one day I'll have to go through it again when my "kiddies" are old and aging, I still can't help it but continue to keep these pets around ...
Keeping animals require responsbility too - they should not be bought at the spur of the moment, or under impulse. Please consider carefully if you can commit to feeding and bathing them regularly, bringing them for regular vaccinations and visits to the vet when they are unwell, cleaning up after them, and most importantly, bearing with their nonsense at times (well, when they feel they are not getting your attention, they can really create something to get it from you, and you have to see it from their point of view instead of being angry with them or wacking them). Don't do these lovely creatures a disservice by depriving them of what they long for when they entrust their entire life and pin their hopes on you.
May you be the righteous one that the Lord spoke of in Prov 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."
Friends were "amused" that amidst the piles of assignments and readings, I can still create a blog and lock in entries daily (well, the blog is still fresh, so is the enthusiasm =). Well, writing helps me de-stress, I mean, besides writing theological papers which "stresses" me =)
I said I will write on animals if I have the time =) so here am I ...
Animals are lovely - well, at least for me, dogs and cats. Many people like dogs because they are the most loyal friends you can ever have, while some like cats because they have "character". Well, I have both - 2 doggies and 1 cat. They are simply the love of my life - I never fail to get cheered up by them whenever I come home tired and weary. When they wag their tails (I mean, my dogs) I just can't refuse to give them a pat on their head or play along with them for a while - their looks and their enthusiasm towards you just steals your heart away ... As for my cat, haha, you will never believe that it's now "behaving" like a dog - after being with his 2 "siblings" for so long. Whenever he sees me playing with the other 2, he will find his way to squeeze in and get me to pat and stroke him too. They can get jealous too! Watch it!
Besides being lovely, animals are therapeutic too. Sometimes when I'm really not in the mood to play with them no matter how they "plead" with me, they would just sit around me, giving me that "Are you ok? You look troubled, and I'm sad that you are. Can I share your problems with you?" look. They can't talk but the way they look at you just make you feel that you don't have to shoulder all your problems alone. They might not be able to help in any way, but their presence is there to assure you that you are not alone.
Animals help to keep you alert too - at least that's what I kept telling mum whenever she grumbles that all we do is play with the "kiddies", while she has to cook their meals, feed them, clear their daily business, etc. In any case, she has to agree with me that with them, she is kept occupied, and prevented from going senile =P Thanks, mum.
On the flip side, it is emotionally very draining when your "kiddies" are not well, or when it comes to a point that it's time for them to leave you. I lost count of how many buckets of tears I've shed when I lost my white mice, my rabbit, and my previous 2 doggies. I really cried! Somehow, everyone of them left me fond memories that I felt so hard to forget and let go. But the ironical thing is that though I know the strain of these emotional attachments and that one day I'll have to go through it again when my "kiddies" are old and aging, I still can't help it but continue to keep these pets around ...
Keeping animals require responsbility too - they should not be bought at the spur of the moment, or under impulse. Please consider carefully if you can commit to feeding and bathing them regularly, bringing them for regular vaccinations and visits to the vet when they are unwell, cleaning up after them, and most importantly, bearing with their nonsense at times (well, when they feel they are not getting your attention, they can really create something to get it from you, and you have to see it from their point of view instead of being angry with them or wacking them). Don't do these lovely creatures a disservice by depriving them of what they long for when they entrust their entire life and pin their hopes on you.
May you be the righteous one that the Lord spoke of in Prov 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."
Comments