It is not surprising that my sons are animal lovers, considering I am their mother, and that our house was always full of animals we adopted or were caring for in some capacity. Orphaned rabbits and baby possums, birds of all varieties, and a stream of escapees from the nearby animal shelter all became members of our family at some point in time.
It is also not surprising that my sons married women who also love animals. One son and his wife first fostered a Great Dane when they were living in a small apartment with a feisty miniature schnauzer and two ferrets. After they moved into a new house with a large backyard, pony-sized Pluto quickly took a paternal interest in the two bunnies who were soon added to the family.
Over time, they took in other cats and dogs, including a young Great Dane, Remmy, just hours from being euthanized, with plans to return her to health and put her up for adoption through a rescue organization.
Remmy was weak and emaciated from not eating or being cared for and had trouble walking. This was complicated by not having the use of one of her paws. As a result, she was happy to resign herself to the couch where she was showered with love and affection, plied with good quality food and, eventually learned to play.
Looking back at Remmy’s photos, I am reminded of the dogs in Scripture who scavenged for scraps under the table, dropped by the children who were fed first, and best. Fortunately for Remmy, she became one of the fur babies at the table and thrived under the care of my son and his wife, and their children, who have learned that real love always provides more than scraps.
With their care, she eventually found her forever home with a family that loved her.
Sadly, there are an extraordinary number of our sisters and brothers who continue to get only what falls under the table. They scavenge not only for food, but for compassion and recognition of their value as human beings. Saint Teresa of Calcutta learned through her own work with the poor and marginalized that “the most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.”
Her words are a continual challenge to me, and I find myself reflecting on my own failure to do what I consider something significant to bring them to the table. Can I do any better at being the hands and feet of Christ on Earth?
Thankfully, I also have the saint’s words of encouragement: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
I remind myself that I am capable of doing small things with great love, but just to make sure I don’t forget my goal, I have included Saint Teresa’s wisdom in my daily reflection: “I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' Rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?’”
Mary Regina Morrell is a Catholic journalist, author, and syndicated columnist who has served the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton, New Jersey, and RENEW International in the areas of catechesis and communication.