Animals Matter! Adam took time to name each one because each were unique. When the patriarchs moved from place to place they never left them behind. When humankind wanted to show God how much they loved Him and looked for a gift that would mean life and love, the sacrifice they would offer would be something like themselves....beings of unconditional love. Noah and his family reached out to all the creatures and drew them into the Ark...they mattered so much. And Jesus' life was touched by turtledoves, sheep and goats, ass and ox, fish and camels, birds of the air, and one lost lamb. Animals matter because of their total YES to who they are....they live and do not question why or let life pass them by. They matter because they are willing to leave their nature behind and attempt to assume ours....they wait for us, they try to speak their needs, they love with the totalness of their hearts. For this we are grateful. They gift us simply and humbly. They love us without expectation of "things" but desire our protection and tender affection. Animals matter....for all the world was theirs before it was ours. They welcomed us into the Garden of Eden...and will companion us through this world to the next.