The Law of Kindness

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 8, 1902

The Law of Kindness

A FRIEND OF ANIMALS

I often wonder why men who profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, and especially those who claim to be keeping the commandments of God, do not give heed to this statement of Holy Writ: “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast.” How can any one who has read Christ’s biography as recorded in the Gospels, imagine him whipping a horse, a cow, a dog, or any other animal which God has loaned us for our use here on this earth? But how often we see those who profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Nazarene doing these very things, seemingly without a thought that the poor dumb brutes on which they are venting their fury can feel pain. And yet such a person seems to think the animal should know right from wrong, and know just what is required of it, and obey at all times. If it did this, it surely would be wiser than its owner; for he neither does nor seems to know what his Maker and Owner requires of him.

I have known professed Christian men to beat a poor horse or cow because, after weeks of confinement, it found itself free, and ran from its master in order to obtain the exercise its nature required. When these animals find that their little escapades are followed with beatings even though they return peaceably to the place in which their masters wish to keep them, who can blame them for trying to keep out of their masters’ way?

If such men were dumb animals, and had the same disposition they now have, what would they do under similar circumstances? Would they walk quietly into the very place where they well knew they were going to be lashed with a rawhide, or perhaps with something worse, and stand perfectly quiet until the heavy blows caused ridges to rise on their backs and sides, perhaps on their heads?

My brother, do you say, Well, I would not run off in the first place; I would do what I was told by my master who fed me? Ah! would you? and do you do that? Are we not told to be merciful? “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:7. From whom?—From God, their master and keeper.

I have had domestic animals all my life, and I believe they appreciate kind words. They will follow those who treat them kindly, and will not have to be driven. When I wish an animal to do a certain thing or go to a certain place, I try to get it to comply with my wishes without harshness, and I succeed. Then I always pet it, and let it know in various ways that it has done what pleases me, and it soon learns that I do not wish to harm it, and will follow me into the stable or the yard without any trouble.

Brethren, let us practice the law of kindness, and treat the dumb animals which the Lord has loaned us as we shall wish we had when called to give an account of our stewardship in regard to these things. If we have been in the habit of treating our animals harshly or unkindly, it may take a great deal of patience and time to teach them that we do not mean to harm them; but let us be gentle and patient, and we shall not only succeed, but our influence upon the world will be better.