THE HISTORY - THE INSPIRATIONS
My Least Brethren animal rescue is,
in the purest sense, a non-profit organization, although I do not have a legal, not-for-profit status, and there is only one way to organize a single Manager / employee / ranch hand / medical officer / photographer / publicist / legal advisor / technician and carpenter. I am it.
In 1986 I found a seagull with a broken wing. The vet said she would never, ever fly because a one inch section of her wing bones was crushed nearly to powder. The x-rays were heartbreaking, but I gave her the best care that I could and prayed for her healing every day. When I released Lacy back to the arms of a kind and loving God eight months later, the animal rehab agents who were in attedance said that they had never seen a bird fly that strongly its first time out. They wondered aloud if her wing had been broken at all. Lacy was truly a miracle and it became clear to me that the Lord had gently placed a wondrous gift in my hands.
"Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you... Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this, you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." 1 Timothty 4:14-16
The miracle I witessed in Lacy changed my life forever and animals began finding their way into my life in every way imaginable, including literally falling from the sky at my feet!
The wild ones are released as appropriate, and I do my best to find loving homes for domestic animals, small and large, as they become adoptable. Those that have physical, mental, and emotional challenges greater than most owners are willing to accomodate generally stay with me for life. Some are simply too precious to ever part with.
"When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise up in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as the noonday. And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and will fill thy soul with brightness, and deliver thee from pain, and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a fountain of water whose waters shall never fail." Isaiah 58:10,11
Shortly after Lacy's release, a tree in my yard was filled with caterpillars, beautiful and fuzzy - an army thousands strong! On a very hot day, they all decided to drop to the ground and make a break for it. Many of them were crossing the street, frying on the asphalt or being run over. I couldn't stand it. I gathered misguided caterpillars for two days, filling empty fish tanks, jars, boxes and freezer containers with the fuzzy bugs and leaves from their favorite tree. I painstakingly distributed them to friends and family members with fresh supplies of leaves. A few days later they all began to make themselves cocoons and eventually they all hatched out into beautiful black and purple and yellow Mourning Cloak Butterflies. For several days I received delighted calls about that day's happy releases. I, of course, had among mine, the only two butterflies who forgot to hang upside down as their wings unfolded and dried. Flippsey and Floppsey could never do anything close to flying because their little wings were crooked and bent. I hand fed them honey on leaves soaked in lukewarm water every two days. They got fresh flower "beds" each Friday. At ten weeks old, they had already outlived their life expectancy by two weeks, as I left for Bible study. The subject that evening was Judgement Day. As Jesus separated the souls into two groups, He said to those on his right,
"Come ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34
Jesus went on to praise them for all of the good deeds they had done for Him. Confused, they answered that they could not have performed those deeds, for they had never met Him.
"And the King answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these, My Least Brethren, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40
And my heart was suddenly full to overflowing. Flippsey and Floppsey, waiting at home for me, were without a doubt some of the very least of The Least Brethren. And my mission had a name. And the name had a mission. And it was good.
Now, twenty-three years later, it is difficult to tell where the mission ends and my life begins, for they are truly inseperable and neither can stand alone. Through my many disabling illnesses and injuries, many kind people have helped me in my endeavors, and I wish for them, from the bottom of my heart, all the very kindest blessings from the Lord.
My normal animal count is between 40 and 50, never less than 30 and I try very hard to keep it under 100!!!! - everything from orphaned and/or starving horses to tiny blind button quail. I have been blessed to know some of the most remarkable animals in all of Creation, and there are many poems and short stories and books in the works. I am currently searching for a children's book publisher.
My greatest and most desperate wish is to never have to turn an animal away. I do not search them out. The Lord directs them to me. Any and all prayers for my continued ability to alleviate suffering in the animal kingdom will be greatly appreciated.
~~ GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE ~~
FOOTNOTE - 2009 - The continuing deterioration of my health and my finances has forced me to gear down somewhat. Please please keep us in your prayers. Call on the grace and mercy of the Lord to continue to help me, to please heal my infirmities, and to smile on this sanctuary and it's little souls. Prayer is by far the most precious gift we can offer each other...
...with sincere thanks! =)
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