Pets Are Not Children!

There seems to be an inordinate number of dog and cat lovers (mostly dogs) in the U.S. today. More so than in the past. People are constantly posting pictures of their pets on Facebook or celebrating their pet's birthdays. Not a week goes by when I don't see the bumper sticker "I love my grand doggy." But pets are not children.

  I think this pet-loving trend is due to people having less children. I notice that married couples without children often have pets that they treat as if they were their children. People whose children are grown long for grandchildren. The natural nurturing instinct is unfulfilled so people try to fulfill it through lavishing love and attention on their pets.

  But pets are not children. They are not family members; they are accessories to a family. They are pets. Children are human beings and pets are animals. A human being is the most complex of God's creation. Animals are limited in their thinking and feeling, not to mention their relatively short lifespan in comparison to people.

  There is nothing wrong with loving a dog or cat. But there does seem something wrong with putting a pet on the same level as a child. Pets can be loyal and affectionate; they make good companions for adults and children. They serve us well. But they are not children; and treating them like children is an affront to God.

Day Care and Nursery Schools

  I recently visited a day care facility/nursery school. It’s not one of the poor quality ones but rather has a reputation for being a good one. This may very well be as far as care, cleanliness, ratio of child to adult, etc., but it made me very sad.

  The room I entered was bordered with cribs on three sides, end to end. There were quite a few toddlers and preschoolers lying on mats on the carpeted floor, napping.

  I couldn’t help but think that this is not what God intended when He blessed parents with a child. The intention was for the mother to continue to nurture the child she carried in her body and for the father to care for and financially support his family.

  My heart breaks for the thousands upon thousands of institutionalized babies and small children who should be home being raised by their mothers; or at least by their fathers or another relative.

 You may say that a nursery “school” or day care facility is not an institution. The dictionary defines “institution” as “an established organization or corporation especially of a public character.” Schools are institutions. Little children were not meant to be raised in institutions but in the safe, nurturing environment of their home. Children do not socialize with other children until about the age of two. And they don’t really need formal teaching until they reach kindergarten age. Nursery schools and day care facilities are “germ factories” where colds and diseases are easily spread by drooling teething toddlers and many children playing with the same toys.

  Research shows that little children raised in a home environment with one caregiver become more independent and have better relationships with others in the future. The one on one relationship with a loving relative helps them to grow in trust and confidence.

  I realize that this is the ideal and not what every parent can do. There are single, widowed and poor parents who have no choice but to go out to work. But most parents have a choice. Most parents who choose day care for their small children do so because they don’t want to interrupt their career or they want large lovely homes, nice cars and yearly vacations. They sacrifice the welfare of their children (sometimes unknowingly) for materialism.

  Our materialistic culture, feminism and the media have distorted the truth about the value of mothers, fathers and the family. Let those of us who know the truth do all we can to share that truth with others.

On Homosexuality, Transgenderism and Gender Identity

This whole new controversy on homosexuality, transgenderism and gender identity reminds me of the "Fat Is Beautiful" movement back in the late 60"s (for those of you old enough to remember!). The proponents of that movement were trying to convince people that being overweight was really just as beautiful as being a normal weight.; that it was just our social conditioning that caused us to feel that the bodies of people who were fat were not as attractive as those who were not overweight.  Well, that didn't last long (although there are resurgences of it from time to time). We all know, and can see, that big fat bellies and rolls of fat are not attractive (much less unhealthy).
  I think it's the same with the homosexuality, transgenderism and gender identity movement. We all know inherently that these are disorders are not normal. Whether they are physiological or psychological does not matter. The bottom line is, they are not normal. Just looking at our human bodies testifies to this. Babies are born male or female. No amount of wishful thinking will change that.
  Men and women fit together sexually like parts of a puzzle. A puzzle designed by God. Men and men do not fit together. Women and women do not fit together. And what is this "fitting together" all about--cooperating with God in making babies. Men cannot make babies with other men. Women cannot make babies with other women. No amount of wishful thinking will change that. The truth is written in nature.
  Yes, we have compassion for those who are afflicted with these disorders. But it is misguided compassion to pretend that it is all "normal" behavior; that those afflicted with these disorders will get better, be happy, etc. if we just try to convince everyone that it is normal. To deny the disorders is to make it impossible for those afflicted to receive treatment. Yes, we know treatment doesn't always work. But it does work for some.
  What if we pretend that all other disorders are normal and stop trying to help people get better? Will all these people be happy and well-balanced? Will chronic depression, autism, schizophrenia and all the other mental and emotional disorders go away if we declare them to be normal?
  Those of us who see the truth need to stand up against the tide of misconceptions that are being promoted by the few. I believe the majority of people don't believe the lies being promoted in the media but are too afraid of being labeled "homophobic", unintelligent or uninformed. You don't have to be very smart to see the truth. It's written in our bodies.