All Creatures Great and Small

 All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple headed mountains,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning

That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them everyone.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we m ight tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

This was originally written as a hymn by Cecil Alexander and published as part of a collection of hymns for children in 1848. James Herriot brought further fame to the first stanza as each became the title for his beloved books about his experience as a country veterinarian.

I fell in love with those books as a middle schooler and it delighted my inner and outer animals lover and appreciator of God's amazing creativity in all things. 

Many years later, I am now rereading them.  What a delightful adventure for any animal lover.