A Farm Friend
Sarah is beautifully worded. A child of God. A farmer. With great wit, strength, and passion. Weirdly enough, I also have become acquainted with her sister, as well. Both ladies fiery red heads. Both with beautiful, homeschooled families. Both who I admire and want to be “when I grow up”. Both of their farms, loosely surrounding mine. Both of them I met at different times, for different reasons. Only finding out, recently, they were sisters! Woah! Totally amazing! And what a small world! This explains why I thought it was so ironic they both homeschooled, had red hair, and both came from a large homestead in Montana! Ha!
Anyways, if anyone could ease the pain I was feeling, outside of my Father, whom I seek first, it would be Sarah. This is some of the advice she graciously shared with me, and I feel if you’re reading this, it may be of comfort for you to hear, as well.
Sarah-“It is so discouraging to have losses. This cold makes it even harder for first time goat mamas and goat managers like us!
You just have to remember that losses will happen in livestock management. I cry every time it happens– it’s tough when you’re faced with the reality of things going wrong. Grieve it. It’s not supposed to be like this, but we know we’re headed towards the redemption of all things, right?”
Scripture
“According to Scripture, even creation groans, waiting for redemption. Read Romans 8:18-25, and remember that there is hope for the next kidding. Even that you still have Druzy is a moment of hope and future! You have a loss, but you’re not without hope. That’s how you move forward with your goats. Keep learning, keep doing your best, keep hoping. Keep managing your livestock to the best of your ability, taking pleasure and grief in the wins and losses, glorifying God in each expression of your life being lived deeply.”
Practical Notes
“On a practical note: milk Druzy out. Save her colostrum, because you never know when you will have an orphan. Also, if you don’t plan to milk her, you should at least take the edge off of her production as she dries off– milk her out once a day until engorgement passes, and then let her dry up. Or milk twice a day.”
“On your other mamas getting ready to kid– I’ve had consistent daytime births by graining in the evening. My Dad’s trick. Grain once a day in the evening. For some reason, that sets up labor to start in the morning, usually done by noon. The occasional first freshener will labor in the evening, but never in the night without your awareness.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Rough way to start. But be encouraged– God is fixing this. He says so in His Word. And we are a part of the groaning of creation, but we are also a part of the redemption, and we can hope because we know the Redeemer. Care well for Druzy, and be a part of easing the groans we all live under– a part of the redemption of creation.
Hang in there, sister, I know it is painful.”
Encouragement
Wow. Yes. Exactly what I needed and wanted to hear. I thank God for this woman he placed in my life. A sister to steer me and remind me of everything she so eloquently wrote to me. If this helped me, I pray it helps you, as well. Let’s take a moment and read what that scripture says! I’ll put it, here, for you!
Romans 8 18-25
18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
19
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God
to be revealed.
20
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,
21
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
23
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly
for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
24
For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at
Who hopes for what they already have?
25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
