International Animal Day! And the people who love them!

Today is World Day for all our non-living friends! And ours! Of those of us who love, cherish, respect and share our moments and our existence with them!

Also today is the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the heavenly protector of animals and nature. And browsing through Google about his life, I learned that through his kindness and wisdom he was able to speak, heal, communicate and tame animals. History tells us how he made peace with the wolf. It is said that a village in Italy, Gubbio, was terrorized by a wolf, and everyone was armed with pitchforks and shovels to kill it. Until one day St Francis decided to go to the wolf and talk to it. People thought he was crazy. And the saint said to the wolf: 'I know you only want food, and that's why you kill and make havoc. But I promise you that the villagers will give you food, and you promise me that you won't hurt anyone else'. The wolf gave him his paw, they made a pact, and began a beautiful friendship.

It is also said that the wolf lived with the villagers for two years, and roamed the houses of the people who fed and cared for it. They loved him so much, that when the wolf died - they built a church, and under the altar his head is buried. St Francis is also considered the first ecologist in history to speak about the importance of understanding man with nature, and living in harmony.

It is also said that for his great humility, purity, holiness and love for all creation, God made him to understand the language of animals, to speak to them and to preach to them as to humans. Once he stopped by an almond tree and said to it, 'Tell me something about God!' And the almond tree blossomed on the spot

In the meantime, mankind has learned nothing. We are waging a war against nature. Two-thirds of the world's wild animal populations have disappeared in less than 50 years. Three billion animals have been killed in fires in Australia. We're giving up. We kill. We destroy their habitats. And we move forward purely out of inertia, deluding ourselves that some of us are good, and saving.

On their Day, we saved a few souls. One of them with his throat cut, here in the pictures. He may never have had friends, but today he has us.

Life will follow its own steps, and we will let it lead us with love and faith! Love, Roxana! ❤️