Devotionals for the Heart: Observing animals taught me about peace

Observing Animals Can Teach Us How to Relieve Stress
A devotional by Desiree Future

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

—Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

One day, I was on my way to work early in the morning. I passed a sleeping cat under a tree, looking peaceful. As I walked by, he arched his back in a long stretch.

I crossed the street to find two birds in a tiny puddle of water. One would go for a drink and the other would dip their wing in it. Closer to the neighbor's house were two cats that sat directly beside each other. If it were not for the black patch on one cat, you would have thought you were seeing double. They weren’t playing or anything. They were just casually hanging out in the backyard.

Further down the street, I saw a squirrel inside someone’s gate. At first, it was just walking from one house to another. Then it suddenly hopped like a bunny rabbit to the next house. All the animals I saw brought a smile to my face. They seemed happy and peaceful. I was grateful that I didn’t see the large raccoon I had encountered the previous week.

These amazing creatures that God put on this Earth are examples of what we should be like, in my opinion. Laid back, peaceful, and not a care in the world.

I understand that we have a lot of things going on, whether you’re a single parent or a married couple struggling to make ends meet. Whatever your circumstances are, times are really tough these days. The prices on products in the USA have skyrocketed on everything from food to cars and housing. Yet in many cases, most people’s paycheck amount has remained the same. I understand sometimes it feels like you’re a professional juggler because you’re always balancing many things at once. Not to mention trying to figure out how to make things work with what you have. It’s not an easy task, to say the least. However, you get up every day and focus on finding ways to make things better.

You do it so much that you end up neglecting yourself. Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes, so this young lady understands. But how about you do something different instead of stressing?

What if you acted like the animals that were just relaxing and enjoying life? Take a long nap and rejuvenate your mind and body. Then stretch like a cat after a most enjoyable slumber. Perhaps a nice rest in the yard or park, doing absolutely nothing to release the stress of your struggles. Add a nice book and beverage to enhance this. Or if you really need to get rid of your stress, try playing like the squirrel did. Find an activity like running, painting, or bird watching. Indulge in something that makes you smile from the inside out. You don’t necessarily need to spend money to have a good time. All it takes is a creative mind and the desire to relieve your stress. Some of our greatest examples that show us how to relax in this world are literally in front of us—we just have to open our eyes to see as I saw in the lives of these animals that maintain their peace as the world revolves around them.

A little while ago, my peace was disturbed when my car broke down and I was forced to take public transportation. It was not a happy time to say the least. I got caught in a bad rainstorm on my way home from work once. By the time I got home, I was completely drenched. Another time, I came face-to-face with a raccoon on my way home. These are the kinds of things that will surely stress you out. However, I restarted a jewelry-making hobby of mine that helped me regain my peace. I decided to do it more often and it turned into something I truly enjoy. It relaxes me while I make different bracelets for my friends and myself.

It’s just something about jazzing up an outfit with a one-of-a-kind bracelet that I enjoy creating. Whether it's for a classy event, work attire, or anything else, the joy I get from creating something beautiful eases all my troubles away.

Perhaps today, you too could do something to send your troubles away and restore your peace. Start with God and ask Him in prayer what that looks like for you.

Let’s Pray: Lord, I ask that You wrap your arms around the person reading this. Let them know that the burdens they carry are not for them. But they are for You to carry instead. Give them peace so they can rest. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I’ll Give You Peace” by Sandi Patty. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Desiree Future is a self-improvement blogger at “Hope Faith & A Smile” where she pens inspirational and encouraging posts. 

This blog that she started as a place for her upcoming novel turned into something far more than she expected. It developed into a home for conversations with people from all walks of life. By writing about everyday events that occur in her world she makes her posts very relatable. As some commenters have said, “Desiree talks to us and not at us.”

In 2013, she self-published The Pastor’s Heart, a Christian romance novel. The following year in 2014, she self-published its sequel, It’s a New Season.

Desiree has been a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) since 2020. She’s also been a member of a writing critique group through her local ACFW Chapter since 2021. Several of her articles have appeared on the official blog for ACFW. In 2022, she became a contributing author in the encouraging devotional, The Courage to Write.

This child of God may not have a church home yet, but God is first in her life.

Desiree is a cancer survivor who calls New Jersey home. She enjoys traveling to different places to spark ideas for her next article. She likes thrifting and going to the theater to see the latest matinee.

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Connect with Desiree:
Website: https://desireefuture.com/
E-mail: desireefuturewrites@hotmail.com