Can teaching children kindness toward animals help them become more compassionate adults?

In this inspiring episode of Medicine, Motherhood & Missions, host Johanna Moses sits down with award-winning children's author and former elementary school teacher Christine Devane to explore how storytelling, empathy, and caring for animals can shape a child's character for life.

Christine shares the heart behind her award-winning children's books, including Elephant Beach, Lola and Sophie's ABC Adventure, and Pet Safety with Lola & Sophie. Inspired by her lifelong love of animals and years spent in the classroom, Christine writes stories that help children develop empathy, confidence, kindness, and responsibility.

Together, Johanna and Christine discuss why teaching children to care for animals is about so much more than pets. These early experiences become opportunities to teach compassion, respect, gentleness, responsibility, and emotional intelligence—qualities that help children build healthy relationships throughout their lives.

Whether you're raising young children, teaching in a classroom, working in healthcare, or simply looking for ways to cultivate kindness in the next generation, this conversation is full of practical encouragement and timeless wisdom.

• Why kindness toward animals builds empathy toward people
• How children's books can help shape character and emotional development
• Practical ways parents can teach compassion at home
• The importance of pet safety and respectful interactions with animals
• Encouraging shy children through stories that help them feel seen
• The value of adopting rescue pets
• How small moments of kindness create lifelong character

"The way children learn to care for animals often becomes the way they learn to care for people."

Christine Devane is an award-winning children's author, former second-grade teacher, and lifelong animal advocate. Her books encourage children to develop empathy, confidence, kindness, and responsibility while promoting pet adoption and animal safety. Inspired by her own childhood love of animals and years spent reading with students, Christine creates stories that help children grow into compassionate leaders.

• Elephant Beach
• Lola and Sophie's ABC Adventure
• Pet Safety with Lola & Sophie

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe to Medicine, Motherhood & Missions on your favorite podcast platform. Leaving a five-star review helps more listeners discover conversations that encourage purpose, leadership, faith, and impact.

Share this episode with a parent, teacher, grandparent, librarian, pediatric provider, veterinarian, or animal lover who believes in raising children with compassion.

Together, we can raise a generation that leads with kindness.

Connect with Christine:

https://www.christine-devane.com/
Instagram @stined13

Connect with Johanna

Instagram: @medicine_motherhood_missions ⁠

www.johannamoses.com

Welcome back to Medicine Motherhood Missions. Today’s episode takes us behind the curtain of medicine with Dr. Ryan McPherson, a trauma surgeon and author of

While You Were Asleep: Behind the Scenes Stories from Residency at a Level 1 Trauma Center.

In his book, Ryan pulls us into the raw, unfiltered realities of residency—the 3 a.m. trauma calls, the quiet doubts of imposter syndrome, the weight of mistakes, and the cost of living a life fully consumed by the calling of medicine.

But he also invites us to consider something deeper:

What mindset sustains a physician through burnout, perfectionism, sacrifice, and the pursuit of integrity?

Whether you’re in medicine, walking alongside someone who is, or simply curious about the human side of healing, this conversation will challenge you to reflect on resilience, honesty, and what it truly means to live out a calling.

Connect with Ryan:

Check out the book, "While You Were Asleep: Behind the Scenes Stories from Residency at a Level 1 Trauma Center" https://a.co/d/jaEwdb3

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ryan_mcpherson_author/

Connect with Johanna

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannamoses/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/medicine_motherhood_missions/⁠

www.johannamoses.com

Hi Friends!

Thank you for checking out our podcast today! Paul & I discuss marriage and communication as we just celebrated our 10 year anniversary.

We aren't experts nor very experienced but we share what we have learned in our 10 years. How we listen to each other, make decisions and what we hope for our marriage.

We digress a little and share a compelling story from The Ephraim Foundation International we heard of a lady and her son who have faced several challenges but still persevere. We discuss how it is important to listen and hear the cries of help from others and support them.

Thank you so much for listening!

-Johanna

CONNECT:

LinnkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannamoses/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/medicine_motherhood_missions/⁠

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