Roy writes:

Animals have always been part of the story of God’s creation. From the very beginning, God gave us creatures of every kind — not only for the balance of the earth, but for companionship, work, and joy. They are reminders of His love and of the goodness He placed in the world.

When I look back over my life, I see the faithful faces of the animals who shared it with me. My childhood collie, Button, looked so much like Lassie that she could have walked straight out of a movie. Button was more than just a pet — she was my constant companion in everything I did, a friend who listened without judgment and loved without condition. Then there was Hole, a hound whose deep, earthy bark filled the farm with sound.

We also had a mule named Kate. She was truly my dad’s mule. For him, she would plow straight, true rows in the field. But when I tried, Kate had other ideas — crooked rows at best, or sometimes just sitting down as if to say, “Not today.” She taught me something too: animals know who they belong to, and they give their best to the ones they trust.

Snoopy, a little dog with the spirit of the Peanuts character, brought laughter into our home, while Stitches the Shih Tzu stitched himself right into our family’s heart. Years later, when I lived in Colorado, Marlowe — my Black Lab and Greyhound mix — became my companion. He loved fried chicken almost as much as he loved walking me (because it was always him leading the way, never me!). Fiercely loyal, sometimes jealous, but always tender when I needed comfort, Marlowe was one of those rare dogs that imprinted themselves on your soul.

Animals have also touched my family’s life through Maggie, a sweet dog who belonged to my daughter Regina, her husband Jason, and their children Elise and Jonah. Maggie grew up alongside them, and just yesterday she was laid to rest after a long, full life. To them, and to all of us who loved her, Maggie was not just “a dog,” but a member of the family.

Today, in my life with Robert, I’ve grown to love Fatty the Cat and Max the French Bulldog. Each has their quirks — Fatty with his calm feline wisdom and Max with his stubborn yet playful spirit. They remind me daily of the joy animals bring, simply by being who God created them to be.

The Bible tells us that God created every living thing and called it good (Genesis 1:25). Animals enrich our days with love, humor, work, and comfort. They teach us lessons about loyalty, patience, trust, and even grief. And in their silent, unspoken ways, they show us glimpses of the Creator’s heart.

To love an animal is to experience a little bit of God’s grace. Whether it is a farm mule, a faithful collie, a mischievous cat, or a beloved family dog, these creatures remind us that we are not alone in this world. They walk beside us, comfort us in sorrow, and share in our joy.

So today, I honor the animals who have been part of my story — Button, Hole, Kate, Snoopy, Stitches, Marlowe, Maggie, Fatty, Max, and so many more. And I thank God for the way He made them, not as an afterthought in creation, but as companions to share the journey with us.

“All creatures great and small, the Lord God made them all.”