It’s a given that any form of abuse is not to be tolerated. That type of reality devastates my heart, but few things bring me to tears faster than hearing or seeing an animal abuse story. I’m not a weepy person, but I’ll do the ugly cry every time.
I didn’t understand it for the longest time. Why such a visceral response to something that isn’t present in my life? Whenever I am triggered like that, I ask myself questions and process with the Lord.
As strange as it may sound, and I don’t fully understand it myself, I somehow overlay my abusive childhood onto an abused animal’s situation. I’m still left wondering why identical childhood abuse stories do not elicit the same reaction.
That dog didn’t deserve to be starved or mutilated. The cat just wanted someone to love. They don’t even understand what they did that was so wrong, that required abuse in return. I imagine them wondering why they’re not lovable. Is it too much to ask to belong, to be accepted, to be loved?
Rejection is one of those things that proves the old adage wrong, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I wouldn’t call that a lie, but it sure doesn’t prepare you for the power of words. Things like rejection, abandonment, critical words, etc., any form of abuse leaves deep wounds on the soul. And they take a whole lot longer to rewrite with the truth.
Another possible reason I respond to those stories with such emotion is because in my late teens and early 20’s I failed my own pets on more than one occasion.
This is where the old saying “hurt people, hurt people” makes sense to me. While my pets always had food, water, vet care, and were welcomed in the home, in hindsight I can see that the “sticks and stones” can be like hands and that my words held a lot of pain for their tender spirits considering that animals respond to tone and body language. I fell short of the affection and love they deserved.
What a shock when I realized I treated my dogs like my mom and dad treated me. Distant, uninterested, like an obligation, inflicting harsh words or punishment. None of my early pets deserved such an unqualified owner. Always wagging their tails and offering unconditional forgiveness and affection, they endured and continually chose not to give up on me.
I cry even now when I think about it all.
I don’t have anything scriptural for what I’m about to share, but I still wonder—what if pets come into our lives to take on something we deserve? Maybe they endure our pain to teach us something about ourselves and, in the process, heal us or spare other loved ones from our brokenness.
What if a death that is supposed to be for a family member is transferred to the animal? Or, as in my case, when I realized I was transferring my pain onto my pets I was able to better process that pain. The result of processing that pain was that my children did not have to endure the survival skills I had not dealt with.
Satan wants to destroy me and pour guilt on me for my past treatment of animals or the past treatment I received from my mom and dad. He wants me to view God through the lens of my pain, forgetting that He is good and, instead, blaming Him for my mom’s choices, my choices. I’ve decided to use my gift of choice to forgive my mom, forgive myself, and to believe that God is still good. I’m putting the blame where it belongs—on me, my choices. It takes me out of the role of helpless victim and gives me the power to change.
Live Loved and Thrive!
Read more on this topic: https://alifeofthrive.com/2021/09/21/suffering/
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take the truths you discover about yourself and hold them up to the Light to evaluate them against who God says you are.
- Have you ever taken your pain out on someone else?
- Are there any patterns to your outbursts or reactions?
- What are the triggers that cause your painful memories to arise?
- Is there still a painful memory that you need to process for (more) healing?
- Have you ever experienced hurt people hurting other people? If so, give an example.
Use God’s Word to take control over the traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises in His Word.
Here is a scripture for you to print, cut and carry with you and/or post in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s Word says about His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals…” Proverbs 12:10 (NIV)
Translation: Since our righteousness is found in God, to care for our animals is a telltale sign that we are His and that we walk in His ways. There are many verses in the Bible that speak to the importance and care of animals. My favorite ones are about God’s care for His sheep. We are His sheep, you and I. If God has a tenderness for us, you can bet it’s a quality He wants us to have in order to reflect His value system.
