Animals often show an ability to sense things which humans can't detect.

There are suggestions that dogs can detect malignant melanomas by smelling a distinctive odour.  Such a case was reported at King's College Hospital in London, England.  A patient had a mole checked out because her dog constantly fussed, whined, and attempted to bite the back of her thigh where the mole was situated.  Her normally gentle dog, became quite aggressive whenever he was nearby while she undressed.  The mole turned out to be a malignant melanoma.  It seemed the dog recognized the illness, perhaps by sniffing something associated with the skin cancer.

Another possible role for animals in health care is the identification of healing plants, which are abundant in nature's pharmacy.  There are reports that wild chimpanzees, when sick, will eat bitter plants that they don't eat when healthy.

In one case a very sick female chimpanzee dragged herself to a Vernonia Amygdalina bush, and began to suck on its shoots.  This plant is known to be exceptionally effective against parasites, but is never eaten by healthy chimps.  By the next day she was eating again and appeared quite healthy.  It seems that chimps, who are vulnerable to many parasites, are able to identify plants in nature's pharmacy that rid the body of these unwelcome guests.

So next time you can't reach a doctor, maybe you should pay more attention to signs from the family pet.

MOVING BEYOND MATTER
by Christopher Shennan and Deborah Piggott

Even the humblest of creatures seem to possess very valuable knowledge, though they may not know how to communicate it to us.  Or, perhaps it is we who do not know how to extract that information from them.

The most worthwhile of lessons can be learned from the family dog.  Dogs display a devotion and faithfulness to their owners that stands as an object lesson for all of us.  It doesn't seem to matter whether you have been away for ten minutes or ten hours.  Their joy at your return differs not an iota.  They welcome you like a long lost friend.  While friends and family often seem to take us for granted, you can always count on Spot, or Rover, or Rex to give you an enthusiastic welcome home.

Perhaps it is time to listen to the lesson our canine friends have been trying to teach us for so long.  Even if we can't wag our tails and dance a jig in the living room, we can at least demonstrate some sincere affection to those who care about us.

Not long ago I attended the funeral of a fine man.  His faithfulness to those behind the scenes details that every one else takes for granted was mentioned.  Now I don't suppose he was thanked regularly, but that did not stop him from serving his friends in unnoticed practical ways and now a big hole is left in his absence.

Love and faithfulness go hand in hand. Christians get stability and strength from the knowledge that God is faithful, though we often are not.  His promises are the very foundation of our faith.  The depth of His love was demonstrated to us when He sent His Son into this world.  And despite everything associated with death by crucifixion,  Jesus was faithful in the work His Father sent Him to complete.

Now here's something to think about;  someday you friends will speak of you in the past tense.   What kind of descriptive words might they  use?