Tonight I lit another candle at exactly 11:18AM Queensland time to mark the third week of Steve’s passing. I sit here watching the flickering light and ponder once again, why Steve had to leave this world. A thought that keeps hitting me is that adage “God has a reason for everything and everybody”.
Steve was a larger than life person, but maybe God felt the best way to preserve this was to bring Steve up among the angels. In Steve’s death there has been such an outpouring of World Love, increased generosity in donations to Steve’s Wildlife Warriors and other wildlife groups, and made everyone talking about what they could do to keep Steve’s Dreams advancing. Even in his death Steve is “Changing the World.
There has been literally 100,000’s of threads in forums not only here on Animal Planet but across the net. Steve once again is reaching out and gathering us all together in his cause. Separate groups have been made on Yahoo, MSN and other programs so that those with the common cause can stay in touch; letting members know of projects they are doing to aid Steve’s goals, to share our stories and remembering Steve.
Maybe this was God’s plan, if Steve had lived to a ripe ole age as he should have, all his hard work and dedication to animal protection, conservation and the environment, over time would not have had the support and backing it has now that Steve has passed on. Maybe God felt to save all creatures’ great and small he had to shake the world up and wake us up, which he surely did. We (from all over this great World) have for three weeks poured our hearts out, shed our tears with each other in our grief, expressed our love for this man and his family and have vowed to do what than can to keep Steve’s Dreams alive.
Many have put in to action their words, they have donated money, became volunteers at local zoos, vets and other animal related arenas, or became actively involved in their local and international animals rights groups, as well as conservation groups. I wonder, how many times while watching the “Crocodile Hunter” series did people think, I should do something to help this cause. Could this be why he had to die so young, so that we got up off our couches and really did something? So that we no longer take for granted what can disappear so quickly.
I lost my oldest daughter when she was an infant to a heart decease, then too I questioned why would God take someone so young. Today I can say, because it made me a better parent in the end. When my other children were born, I never took any day with them for granted. Every word, every moment and everything they did was so special to me.
Maybe in Steve’s death we will learn that we can’t take for granted the environment and its animals as well.
God Bless You Steve
To Terri, if you should read this, I dearly hope it offers you some comfort. I know you are devastated to your very soul right now. I met you and Steve for a brief moment years ago, just long enough to shake each of your hands. I will treasure that forever, for you both a great people. You have my love, my thoughts and my prayers forever.
To Bindi and Young Bob, if I could would hug your pain away.
To Bob Sr., you son’s dream will not die.
To John, Wes and all of Steve’s family and extended family, a brand new bunch of “Wildlife Warriors” have joined the band to help keep the dreams rolling.
Marsha Booth, (Dove of the River) Fort Worth, TX USA
PS: mod_kelly I am posting this under “In Memoriam”, not sure which forum I should post it in. If you feel should be in “Talk About Steve” please change it for me. Thank you Kelly, for allowing us a space to share our thoughts and feelings with and for the Irwin family and others around the world.
After many days of crying and heartwrenching pain, the fog of wondering why has begun to clear, and after reading all the post and how many millions of people that loved Steve, and are willing to carry on his mission, I am in agreement with you.
When Steve was on television, we were amazed and amused but how many of us did more for his cause than watch his show? We were letting Steve entertain us, and as great as he was, ONE man can't save conservation alone. His death has hurt us to our very core, and in turn, we are more determined to give back to Steve in some way. No most of us can't fly to Australia, or bring crocs to refuge, but ALL of us can give $5 or recycle or help a stray animal be taken care of.
I hate so badly that Terri, Bindi and Bob have lost their loved one. I hurt deeply for them.
I realize now that Steve is in much better hands than he ever was. He is with the Maker and his mother, and his mission will be carried on.
I agree as well. I have also thought that maybe this was God's plan to take him so we would listen to his message. I have love wildlife all my life but never have done anything but admire it. Now at 40 because of Steve Irwin's death I want to have his message fulfilled. I now volunteer at an aquarium and hope that is just the begining. He will be missed and I hope his message reaches all walks of life, young and old and toether we change our world and follow Steve Irwin in becoming wildlife warriors.
Marsha, What beautiful sentiment. When I saw the header for this post I thought it was going to go the opposite direction, I was pleasantly suprised. You write beautifully and I throughly agree with everything you wrote. You never really know what God has in store for you until it slaps you in the face. I too lost a daughter, my 5th child at birth (placental abruption at 36 weeks 2 days) and for a very, very long time I had my own issues with God. It has been 6 years now since her death and I can finally see the good her short life has done for myself, my children and so very many other Moms of Angels and people I come across in life. It hurts us all so now, but I think you are right, Steve will be remembered longer for the charismatic person he was compared to if he had lived a long life and fallen into the backdrop as an old man. I grieve mostly for his family, for Terri who lost her soul mate, for Bindi who lost her idol and best friend, and for Baby Bob who is so little now and will have just photo's and stories to fill his memory. As for the rest of us here in the world grieving for him, he has done what he set out to do and changed the worlds view on animals of all kinds. I know the next time I find a snake in my kitchen I will gather it up and set it free in the back 100 acres rather than killing it. Now please God and Steve, don't take this as an invitation to send me a snake, I would rather not go through that again....and I know what kind of humor God has.......after lossing my daughter we wanted to try just once more...when our son born after her was barely 4 months old we got preggers again with our last daughter!
Anyways thank you so much Marsha for the beautiful words, I enjoyed reading them and you said it perfectly.
Hmmm. I'm glad that this being God's plan was mentioned, because that was on my mind too, especially given the unusual circumstances behind the sting ray's attack.
While none of us are qualified to read the mind of God, it'd be my guess we'd be pretty close to what perhaps could have been why God allowed this to happen. To protect, preserve, and perhaps even to bless.
It reminds me of the story of Hezekiah from the Holy Bible. When Hezekiah became ill, he was told that he was about to die. He pled for more years. God granted them. It was in his later years that Hezekiah made the mistake of foolishly displyaing his riches to the Babylonian King's son. The prophet Isaiah rebuked Hezekiah and told him that after his death, his family and estate would be plundered (2 Kings 20:16-19). That brings to mind that had Hezekiah trusted God to take him from the very beginning when he'd been ill, he wouldn't have been there to make that mistake.
I'm absolutely not at all saying this scenerio mirrors why God took Steve, it's just theoretical. It makes me think about Jeremiah 29:11, and how God protects those who know Him, even when we can't see what he is doing.
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Jeremiah 29:11-- For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
As I have said several times in this forum. Steve Irwin picked up the torch to care for all of God's creatures great and small, and he carried it proudly and he carried it well. He was not ashamed to show his love for animals, for all animals. All that he asked was that we love all of God's creatures as he did. It seems so senseless that we lose him at this point in time, but we do not choose our time, God does. God has His own plan, and it is fullfilled as He desires it. God gave Adam the responsibility of naming each animal, because He knew that by naming each creature, Adam (man) would associate himself with that creature, that Adam (man) would then care more for that creature because he was responsible for that creature's welfare. That "torch" has been handed down from man to man, throughout time. It came to Steve Irwin, and he proudly picked up the "torch". Steve knew each creature by name, not only that, but how it lived, what it ate, how it reacted to situations. He took the time to listen to each creature. Now, that responsibility has been given to the hundreds of millions of us, who enjoyed sharing Steve Irwin's life. What will you do with the "torch"?
All I can say is wow! That is sort of the direction I was thinking and even posted in another area. However, we have to follow through with our end for it to not all be in vain. I don't know if I would go as far as to pin this on God as some intentional master plan but nonetheless, Steve's mission will grow and expand exponentially now as a result. (provided we follow through)
I would also add that people can use Steve's inspiration for any area where they are making this world a better place. Not just helping animals but for people who help their fellow "Human Animals" If we can figure out how to have the same love for the marvelous and beautiful, complex and amazing creature that looks back at us in the mirror that Steve had for the crocs, this world would improve drastically. Even loving the unlovable creatures" the way Steve did. (Criminals for example. Still need to be captured and caged, just like a dangerous predator. We don't allow crocs to run around our cities and we shouldn't allow predator humans to either. But...we can still try to somehow see the beauty in them as best we can and learn what went wrong)
Sometimes when I'm at a Zoo, the inspiring thought comes to mind that the most wonderfull and beautiful creatures at the zoo are wandering loose around me and that I can touch one of them them by grabbing my own arm or my wifes hand. If there is some way we can turn our love for animals onto our fellow humans, that would be great. I try to look on people as if Steve was doing a show about them. (Isn't she just goorgious! What a beauty.) Or I visualize Steve going into a max security prison and interacting with the violent felons. (Crikey! He shanked me. Thats ok though. He's been through alot and I got way too close. Its not his fault. Its simply his nature. He's been through alot. I love him anyway! Wow look at those biceps!)
You get the idea. (I'm a police officer, trying to help my fellow "human animals" and even some "predators" at times.)
Love Dave
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