God often sends me reminders through songs, nature and the many creatures He has blessed me with. I could write of the many lessons farm life brings but that would be too long of a post. I learned early on in life that not every animal will survive and I learned that just because it is cute and sweet doesn't mean you can keep it forever. I learned that the cute beef calves that came were not my most recent "pet". They would be butchered and no you can't name them....I still like myself a good steak or a roast chicken. Life goes on. But every now and then there are times it is pure joy to have a sweet furry animal at your side. I have found that I love taking care of animals and love the response they give in return. I feel like we have communicated well when they let me hold them or scratch their chin. I love when they greet me and seem to say "thank you" when I turn to leave. This week I had two of those experiences. I may be going out on a limb for a few of you that don't necessarily love animals or have a connection to them. Please stay with me till the end or we will see you next week, the choice is yours.
I have written in the past about the cat my daughter had to twist my arm to keep. She was a runaway or drop off, I suspect drop off. She was pregnant and scared. She trusted no one and we called her Patches. Her first litter she blessed us with Snoopy. I have written about him as well. He and Maggie were buddies until she grew to be 70+ lbs. At the end of Fall she had another litter but I never found them. I assumed nature took care of things. However, one day to my surprise, there she sat. She was the cutest little thing I had seen and I knew we needed to keep her. I try to find homes for them. This one I wanted. She was "wild" to say the least. She had not been around people before and I was not what she expected when the door opened to the hen house. I later found one more up in the barn but I rarely see him. I called her Midnight. She was black with orange flecks of color all over. She reminds me of the dark black midnight sky and the orange flecks are the stars. She never wants held and she runs when she sees me. She comes to the food dish every now and then, but really she is gone most of the time. I kind of forget about her actually. Snoopy and Patches are the friendly ones. So, a few weeks ago, I noticed she had kittens. These would never be found. She was thinner that is how I knew she had them. Except, unlike her mom, Patches, she was always around. Laying in the grass in the meadow. Sitting up on the barn rafters. Chasing after Snoopy. Sitting in the old corn fields. Not with kittens like a mom should be. I had decided she must have not been smart enough to take care of them. She carried on with life like usual. Days turned into weeks and I still assumed the kittens died. Until one sunny afternoon this week, I heard it before I saw it. The screaming was heart wrenching. I ran to see what was wrong. There it was. Black and white with whiskers just like his mom. White on the one side and black on the other. He was trying to get into the barn door that was closed. She was pacing inside. She growled at me and hissed. I tried to help. Things went from bad to worse. Next I saw three more trying to find her. She was panicked. I put some food in a dish and tried to help, but clearly that was not what she wanted. So, I left her alone. Days went by and no more kittens. Until yesterday. Laying by the food dish was a precious little lifeless body of a kitten that looked just like her. It had died. It was smaller than the rest and I am guessing it was a runt. I don't know if she put it there or what happened. I do know that she knew I was sure to find it there. I removed it and took care of it as she carefully watched from the side door. Today, I went out to feed my chickens and guess who is stretched out on the floor happy as can be with four of the fattest, cutest, kittens?! Yep, the others had survived. She was doing just fine. She looked at me as if to say, "Thought I couldn't do it..."
If you have been following me long, you know that I am about to attach a lesson God has reminded me of with His creation. You see, I fully believe He leaves fingerprints for us to follow to build our trust, to encourage us, to remind us He is real and that He wants relationship with us. As I watched her clean them and take care of them, I was reminded that I am not to judge others. I judged Midnight. I chalked her up as a young inexperienced cat. I assumed because she was always playing and sleeping outside that she had left the kittens die. I assumed she was a terrible mother. However, she was busy raising 5 kittens. Four of the five were healthy and ready to enjoy life. We may have a home already for a few, but a few are still available if you know of anyone wanting a cat. Here is the lesson I felt reminded of. I judge people the same way. I assume because I don't see them praying, giving in the offering, volunteering, etc, that they must not love Jesus like I do. They must not feel compelled to serve like I think they should be doing. During a recent service people were standing and singing. Some had hands raised in praise. Some just sat in their seats. I thought how can you just sit there when He is right here! I judged them. Some people may be lazy, some may not be doing what they are called to do. That is true. But who am I to say that others are not doing what God has called them to do. Maybe they are the best prayer warriors. Maybe they spent their day visiting the sick. Maybe they drive people to appointments. I need to worry about what I am to be doing and not why or why not certain people don't seem to be serving. Midnight had to be taking good care of these kittens. They are plump little guys. I will try and get pictures of them. They are still quite shy.
I want to remind you as I was reminded. I don't know what others lives are like and so the few minutes I see them in a day or week doesn't cover it. That is between God and them. Not me. Am I doing all that I am suppose to be doing. Am I doing it for others or for God. Some things we are called to do is done behind the scenes and only God sees. Do we will still do them? Midnight took care of her kittens when no one was watching.
Enjoy the pictures. I wish I had more. I also want to close by saying the next few months will be very busy at our home and I may not post every week. I am not stopping, but know that a week may pass or they will not be posted at usual times. You are all on my mind and I love that God has given me this blog. I don't ever want to rush things. So, in His time I will post. Thanks for reading!
Updated picture of Snoopy. He is still doing well and loving life!
Midnight
Midnight up close. I am glad I have a zoom on my lens. Notice white whiskers on the left and black on her right. Her son has the exact same whiskers!
Just for fun. The chicks are really growing! They are five weeks old already. Will not lay eggs till July or August.
One final story and since it may be a couple weeks why not two in one week. I have 29 chicks. I treat them all the same. I give them fresh water, fresh food and clean shavings. I hold them a bit just so they get used to me and don't peck me when they grow up and are in the nesting boxes. Anyway, out of the 29 chicks only one will come to me. She usually runs up to my feet when I open the door and she runs after me when I turn to leave. What does she want? She wants me to hold her. She chirps and looks so relaxed when I hold her. Sometimes I just sit on a crate in the pen and let her rest for awhile. She really is sweet. I hope she stays that way. I share this story because once again Creation reminds me of Him. There is a story in the New Testament of Jesus healing some lepers-Luke 17:11-19. Jesus heals 10 but only one came back to say thank you. The others went quickly on their way. They had all been treated the same. They were all healed. Life would be possible for all of them, but only one came back. Are you the one that comes back and thanks Him each day for all the many blessings he has given you? Food to eat, house to live in, friends, family, eternal life, grace, mercy, etc. Are you the one that takes the time to just sit at his feet and enjoy the moment, neither one saying anything just enjoying His presence? Or are you one of the other nine? Do you have people to see, places to go, things to watch? She reminds me each day that I need to spend time with Him. I do not name my chickens. However, she was given a name today. I call her Rosie. Nosey Rosie. Yet, I am so glad she is nosey, she makes me smile. And you know what? When you spend time with Him, you make Him smile too. I got a quick picture of Rosie today. I wish it has around fresh shavings and a clearer picture but she kept coming closer to the lens, she is nosey and she is a chicken.
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