Submitted by Rev. Diane Gallo Ryder

May 8, 2006

God of feather,

God of fin,

May each animal

Be our friend.

Teach us not to taunt or tease

Any animal, if You please.

We won't poke a cage.

We won't pull a tail.

So love for ALL God's creatures may prevail.

AMEN.

O God,

Teach us to treat each other as carefully as a mother hen sits on her eggs,

Or a mare nudges her newborn foal on wobbly legs.

May our behavior, toward each other and toward You,

Be woven with gentleness through and through.

May our words be as comforting as a kitten's purr.

And as soft as a rabbit's fur.

AMEN.