A Veterinarian's Daughter Learns from the Animal Kingdom: Devotionals for Animal Lovers

By Nancy Welbourn Quinn

A veterinarian's daughter combines life lessons she's learned from household pets, barnyard animals and wildlife into an uplifting and encouraging collection of devotionals sure to lift your heart and draw you closer to the Lord. Each page includes a scripture and section to journal your thoughts or a prayer. These devotionals encourage you to rest in the Lord and stretch your own faith, so that you can reach out to the world each day with the love of Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257617364

Book preview

A Veterinarian’s Daughter

Learns from The Animal Kingdom:

Devotionals for Animal Lovers

By:

Nancy Welbourn Quinn

Introduction

I grew up in a farming community in a small town in Iowa. My Dad was a veterinarian, so I naturally developed a great love of animals through him. From helping my Dad on large animal calls on surrounding farms, to assisting with little patients who came to his office, I have been blessed me with many happy memories as well as a passion for God’s creatures.

My sister and I had the experience every year of summer pets where we would have the privilege of caring for pets and then returning them to the farmer before school began again. Those adventures, as well as many others, have taught me many valuable lessons in my faith from God’s creatures. This devotional book includes three sections; Life Lessons from Furry Household Pets, Life Lessons from Barnyard Animals and Life Lessons from Wild Animals. I hope these devotionals will give you a smile and encourage your walk with Christ too!

This book is dedicated in memory of my dad, Dr. Dale Welbourn, and to fellow animal lovers everywhere!

(Each devotional includes scripture for further reflection and a section to journal your thoughts.)

Life Lessons

From Furry Household Pets

You Are Loved…

Serving with Love:

Tales of Love and Patience at a Veterinarian’s

Office

A small farming town in the middle of Iowa means a veterinarian’s best customers are large animals. Cattle and horses were some of my dad’s favorite customers because he loved to work with large animals. The old red jeep traveled over thousands of miles of dusty gravel roads over the years as he remained dedicated to helping farmers keep their animals healthy.

However, my dad opened his office doors to small animals on mornings and at lunchtime. Small children quickly learned they could not only bring their beloved pets to him, but rescued wild animals as well. Robins with a hurt wing cradled in a shoe box, slithery creatures wrapped in an old towel; my father would kneel before the children and care for these wild rescues as if they were the most important patients in the world.

My dad’s love and patience with everyone who came to his office for help with their pets reminds me of my Heavenly Father. He loves us with an eternal and everlasting love and we are very important to Him. I encourage you to come to the Lord today in prayer and bask in His great love and warmth. Can you feel His caring arms around you today?

Deeper Scripture Study:

Job 34:19 He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

God’s Love Inspires Servant hood…

A Busy Saturday Morning:

Becoming a Servant of Christ

I looked forward to Saturdays when I was a young teen. Helping in my dad’s office earned me additions to my small savings account that went toward my future college plans as well as memories of many interesting adventures. One Saturday morning began with checking on the patients in their cages. The first patient got to go home bright and early as soon as the office opened. Gingerly taking out the old papers and sanitizing the cage, I quickly prepared the cage for our next patient. Giving the remaining patients a scratch behind the ears and fresh water, I promised them their owners would come soon too.

The phone began ringing by 8:30 am with appointments and requests for medicine from farmers. Patients soon began arriving and I quickly sanitized the large silver exam table and put the utensils into the depths of the sanitizing machine between patient appointments.

I’ve grown up now, but I still work in a service career. Serving others is second nature to me and the verses in the Bible about becoming a servant were