This has been an unusual summer. Covid-19 has kept us at home with family and many pets. I have spent each day looking out at my backyard watching birds, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, neighborhood cats, and an occasional skunk bring me pleasure each day. Cardinals mate for life. It is interesting to watch them feed each other. The robins and blue jays seem to enjoy the bird bath the most. The rabbits are so much fun to watch as they hop over and around each other, then resting under the low limbs of the Japanese maple tree. The squirrels are running and chasing each other through the trees, The chipmunks are fast and dart into their home quickly. The cats meander around the outside of the fence. And an occasional skunk appears when all is quiet. I have my own menagerie of beautiful creatures. Everyday is entertaining.
God has blessed us with all creatures great and small.
Genesis 1:20/21; 24/25(NIV) And God said, ” Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of sky. ” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it. 24: And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds; the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
St. Fransis of Assisi pinned a poem in 1225. William H. Draper paraphrased the poem and published it as a hymn in 1919.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1)All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
Chorus:
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia
2)Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
Chorus:
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3)And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on Him cast your care!
Chorus:
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4)Let all things their creator bless, And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him,! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
Chorus:
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
5)Praise God, from who all blessing flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below,
O praise Him!Alleluia!
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Chorus:
O praise Him, O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Submitted by:
Pam Jackson
Knoxville, TN