“You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

-I Kings 17:4, NIV

“Do you need someone to take care of you?!”

This accusation was aimed at me to shame. It was aimed to suggest the person hearing it was less than an adult. But it missed the mark.

Acknowledging the emotional contributions of a pet is not weakness.

Pets do not usually feed us as the ravens did for Elijah. However, they can and do offer important emotional support. I know my cat, Mr. Pickles, helped me survive my first wife’s abandonment, adultery, and the divorce.

He did take care of me, in a sense.

Mr. Pickles gave me unconditional love and reminded me of the eternal truth that I was accepted as beloved. That was needed during a time of extreme rejection.

I have no doubt God used Mr. Pickles greatly in my life to communicate these truths about His heart for me. God knew I needed something–even a cat–to communicate that to me in the flesh, and Mr. Pickles did that well.

Pets are such gifts from God. Yes, we have to feed them and care for their needs. However, I have found what they give back in affection and connection far surpasses what they demand of us.