ANIMALS

ANIMALS

Old postcard of the 1904 World's Fair Flight Cage
Postcard from Saint Louis Zoo archives.

ANIMALS

Written by: Jenny Calvert

Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures and let the birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:20-21 (MEV)

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. So God made the beasts of the earth according to their kind, and the livestock according to their kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  Genesis 1:24-25 (MEV)

One of the things St Louis is known for, is its zoo. The first exhibit bought for the zoo was the flight cage, from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. People could walk through this cage and enjoy many different bird species.  It still stands today with the many other magnificent buildings and beautiful landscaping that take up 90 acres in Forest Park.  Thousands of people go there every year to enjoy exotic animals from all over the world, and the best part, it’s free!  This enables everyone to come and enjoy!

God must have had enjoyment creating all the many variety of animals.  From the dinosaur to the little tadpole, the variety is limitless. The benefits people reap from animals have been around for centuries.  Horses, donkeys and camels have been means for transportation.  The oxen with their strength, help to plow the field.  Sheep provide warmth with their wool coats. Chickens provide eggs for us to eat.  A dog or cat provides companionship.  Tropical fish in an aquarium prove to have a calming effect.

When we step outside today and hear a bird sing, or watch a butterfly land on a flower, we should take a moment to give God thanks for animals.  As our children's director says in her prayer every Sunday, “Thank you for our pets.”  I love that!   God created them and He saw that they were good.  We see that they are good.  God is good!

Dear Creator,

We can’t thank you enough for all the many animals that you created.  We thank you for making them beneficial and enjoyable to us.  I would however like to know one day, why you created mosquitoes?  In the meantime, I am just grateful.

In Your Holy Name I pray,

Amen