by Manuela Mitchell
While growing up, I could never deny the fact that I was always a little more different than the rest of the general public. My best friends consisted of various creatures with fur, feathers and scales. Just about everyone thought I was weird for having such a fascination with animals. Some considered me strange for claiming that I could communicate with them, but they could never justify why animals bonded with me so much. (For those of you wondering…, I can communicate with animals; and they can communicate with me. It’s because I’ve spent so much time with them that I am able to read their body language and behavior–as they read mine on a daily basis).
I was made fun of a lot; and I missed out on quite a few people and social activities with people. At times, I wanted to change so much that I told myself I would try to like animals less and pay less attention to them. I would try hard to fit in and be like “normal” people. Then I realized that nobody was or is normal. I realized that change is ok as long as there is a valid reason. Trying to change a God-given gift is impossible. Being young, I never asked for the ability to help animals, or read them, or even like them. I was born with the basics and, growing up with those tools and God’s gift, I have become someone who cares for animals and educates people about them as a hobby and profession.
In this physical lifetime, God has given us special talents that help us for the near future. I believe that these talents or gifts which we have received now, will somehow be used later in much greater ways. Even though I can’t communicate now with animals verbally, it’s because of who I am that God may grant me that opportunity.