Christian Parenting
In Matthew 10:29 we are told: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care."
Hamsters are adorable, affordable, and make a fantastic alternative to a cat or a dog. Best of all, they are a great choice of pet for a child, especially if you do not think your child is ready for a larger, higher-maintenance animal or if your living condition will not allow for one. Here are a few good reasons why you may want to consider getting your child a hamster:
- They have simple needs
Hamsters do not require much beyond water, food, a small living space, and some enrichment opportunities. Hamster food is cheap, easy to administer, and one purchase can last you for a very long time. Hamster cages are relatively small and easy to transport, and hamster toys are likewise easily moved around and replaced. Your child will not need to do anything extravagant in order to make sure that their hamster remains happy and healthy. Food, water, and plenty of things to climb on is all that a hamster really needs.
- They are low maintenance
Hamsters are incredibly low maintenance, meaning that your child will not have to do much in order to keep their hamster and the cage clean. Hamsters groom themselves and do not require a bath unless they need something washed out of their fur or their cage was allowed to become too dirty. Hamster cages are also easy to clean. All your child will need to do is remove soiled bits of bedding every day, and entirely replace the bedding about once a week.
- They are gentle
Hamsters are generally very gentle animals that do not mind being handled. They do not require a lot of social interaction, but they also do not mind being taken out to play. In fact, hamsters can often even become friendlier the more they are played with. Some hamsters might be more prone to biting than others, but hamster bites do not usually cause any serious or lasting damage.
- They can teach your children about responsibility
Hamsters may be tiny, but they are just as loved by God as any other species on this earth. In Matthew 10:29 we are told: "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care."
This spiritually inspiring quote from Jesus is meant to teach us that God cares for all creation, down to its smallest inhabitants. We should likewise strive to care for all the creatures of this earth, and to teach our children to do the same. Getting your child a hamster is a great way to introduce them to being a caring and compassionate shepherd to all animals.
Make sure, of course, that if you do get your child a hamster you check up on it from time to time as well. Encourage your child to be diligent in feeding it, cleaning it, and caring for it under your watchful supervision, and you will likely be impressed with how enthusiastically they rise to the challenge.
Spiritual Prayer
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.