Hello, my name is Terri. It is nice to know that there are
fellow Christians, many more than I realized, that have a heart for all of
God's creation. My love affair with creatures began early.
I was totally
enamored with frogs, ladybugs but especially turtles. I couldn't leave them
alone. And I loved playing in the mud, to have the feel of the earth in my
hands.
My family was attending church at that time, and a child
evangelist was visiting. With the use of a flannel board she shared the
story of Jesus. I remember her telling of the His journey to the cross.
How
He loved each one of us. How He made it possible for us to become children
of God, His Father. She shared with us His invitation to join His family and
invite Him into our hearts. I walked down the aisle and invited Him to come
live in my heart.
I suppose I was sensitive. Deeply taking to heart what
happened around me. Possibly, even as a child I was on the serious side.
I
was never very good at games, and I certainly didn't have a competitive
edge. At the end of recess, one day as we waited in line to return to our
classes one of the boys began a chant of sorts. A game of taunting and name
calling. Others quickly joined in.
I was singled out, the name they called
me was not particularly bad. It was the tone of their voices, the look on
their faces, the seeming intent of their game. It seemed to me that the
intent of their game was to in some way hurt me. That is what surprised me.
It dismayed me and it hurt.
So I cried. My tears only excited their taunts,
and set the tone for the rest of my educational experience.
That was the
beginning of the first grade.
As a result I turned to the companionship of other
creatures. They were my friends.
I found that animals are often slow to
judge and quick to forgive. I read every book about animals that I could
find, fiction and non-fiction. I colored them, I drew them, I painted them.
I plastered my walls with pictures of all types of creatures wild and
domestic. I thought of them.
I dreamed of them. My life became intertwined
with theirs. The dogs and cats and various wild creatures were my
neighborhood playmates. God brought them into my life and they were like
angels of mercy to me.
It wasn't until the fifth grade that I made my first real
human friend. We had a great deal in common.
Neither of us had been
successful in building relationships with the other kids at school.
Both of
us had a love for other creatures. Our friendship and love for other
creature continues to this day.
And the past difficulties of my childhood experiences
became a foundation for my imagination and creativity.
In time I discovered
I had a talent for sculpting. My hands in the clay, of the earth.
Love at
first touch. Enriched by an awareness of my Creator and His creation.
Of the
Potter and the clay. Of the work of transformation that He is forming in me.
And God's love and pursuit of me became a foundation of healing in my life.
He used my creativity and His creatures to help facilitate His touch and
movement in my life. He turned the ashes of my past into a blessing and
formed within my heart a capacity for compassion and love not only for other
creatures, but for people as well.
I believe that growing up, and transformation, and walking
on a path of healing is a lifelong experience. Each step brings me nearer to
what God is creating me to be. He is the Author and Finisher of my faith.
Your sister in Christ
Terri Russell
