When my dad and his wife lost Scooter, their dog, they mourned. Dad determined never to get another dog because he didn't want to put it down if it became ill. I offered the thought that Scooter had helped keep them alive. Another dog might help their health. I offered him one of ours. Strangely, he declined the offer.
I wonder if Noah and his family grew attached to the animals. They spent a lot of time together. On the other hand, a year on a boat is a long time, even with family. We know Noah loved God more than the animals because he sacrificed some of them to God in worship.
"I have to have God," said my mentor, "and I would really like to have my wife. After that, everything is negotiable." I was young when he said that to me, but I did not forget his words. As the years progress, I understand his thinking more and more. God is essential. We hold our families close. Friends nurture our souls. Nothing else matters as much. The old hymn has it well, "All the vain things that charm me most: I sacrifice them to His blood."
