Pray for pets?
"Animals win hearts, influence people," headlined an article in The Christian Science Monitor (December 15, 1981). The writer pointed out that although there have always been people who loved animals, nothing could compare with today's pet boom. For example: six books about cats on the best seller lists, membership of the Dog Writers Association of America at an all-time high, the cover of Time magazine devoted to an animal.
Animals contribute much to the lives of older people (as well as younger ones), often providing fun and companionship. A closeness exists between many pets and their owners that presents a challenge when an animal suffers.
Like others, Christian Scientists appreciate the work of veterinarians. Students of Science learn, however, that there is a deeper answer for pet problems, based on the inspired Word of the Bible and on sincere, enlightened prayer.
In Psalms we read, "O Lord, thou preservest man and beast." Ps. 36:6. And in Science and Health, the Christian Science textbook, Mrs. Eddy states quite clearly, "All of God's creatures, moving in the harmony of Science, are harmless, useful, indestructible." Science and Health, p. 514. In the scheme of things, animals have a valuable place. They express intelligence, and they arouse our care, affection, and understanding.
Certainly the entire subject of animals and their treatment in Christian Science requires thoughtful attention. We can be prepared to pray for our animals. Science and Health makes a definite statement on this subject: "God is the Life, or intelligence, which forms and preserves the individuality and identity of animals as well as of men." Ibid., p. 550.
In praying for our pets, we can rejoice in the Christ—the powerful healing force that Jesus expressed. We can let the Christ be supreme in our thoughts and effective for our pets, as well as for our fellow men and women. For example, since fear can be a contributing factor to all disease, we need to eliminate fearful thoughts about our pets by learning the spiritual facts belonging to all of God's ideas.
When we are tempted to believe there is something wrong with a much-loved pet, we can begin our healing work by rejecting the fear and physical evidence. No matter what the physical senses are suggesting, we can know that Christ, Truth, actively enables us to handle the challenge with clarity and confidence. And we can realize the perfect wholeness and purity, the true spiritual nature, of God's entire creation.
It may be helpful to ask ourselves often, "What does my dog (or cat or parakeet or ferret) represent to me?" Doesn't it represent qualities—faithfulness, joy, affection, sagacity, and so on? Such qualities, of course, are God-derived. "God gives the lesser idea of Himself for a link to the greater, and in return, the higher always protects the lower," Ibid., p. 518. the textbook tells us.
So, since our pets are inevitably included in our consciousness, and within our present understanding of things "the higher always protects the lower," it is natural for us to protect our animal friends. And how better to protect them than to learn how to pray for them with consecration and dedication when the need arises? When faced with an inharmonious condition affecting a pet, we should take into consideration the thinking of the owners surrounding the animal, as we do the thinking of parents when working with children. When owners of pets are freed from their obsession and fear, which delay healing, some remarkable results with animals take place through Christian Science treatment.
A mother with two young daughters found herself facing a difficult problem with their horse—a jumper—after it had been moved from one stable to another. The horse would not eat or drink and became progressively weaker. Eventually it could not stand on its feet. The mother knew it was time to contact a Christian Science practitioner for help.
The practitioner agreed to help her pray for the horse and to recognize the nowness and immediacy of God's ever-present power and love. The practitioner reminded her that God's love for all members of His creation, realized and felt, is a powerful healing influence. This had been proved with the woman's children in the past. The realization of God's perfect love eliminates fear from the human mind and helps us to realize that God supports all of His ideas.
The young mother stated she felt an immediate sense of peace after talking to the practitioner. Fear disappeared. She knew that the healing power of the Christ, Truth, was available to preserve animals as well as humans. As she prayed for the horse that night, she had renewed confidence that a steadfast acknowledgment of one God, one Mind, would bring healing. She knew God was all, that there was nothing outside Him to cause distress for any of His ideas. And she had a deep, sincere conviction that the horse would be healed. And so it proved!
The next morning the horse was on its feet, eating a regular meal. Within a few days it had regained its normal weight and activity. The young mother had again seen clear evidence of the steady support God provides for all His ideas.
Should we pray for pets? We certainly can be prepared to pray for, and heal, animals when there is a specific need. Pets are part of our conscious environment, and they respond to consecrated, healing prayer in Christian Science.
Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:
let them ever shout for joy,
because thou defendest them:
let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous;
with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Psalms 5:11, 12