Garden and Home Life by Lori Seaborg

A Day's Lesson

For those of you who are wondering, I'm telling you that God really does love you.  I know that in your pain you wonder if He cares.  He does truly care. I was witness to that today.    

Mary, our goat who was the gentle and sweet one, as opposed to fiesty and spunky April, passed away this evening.  She had been having some slight symptoms of I-don't-know-what over the past several days.  I thought we'd just keep a watch on her; it didn't seem too serious.  Today she was suddenly on her side, dying right before our eyes. 

I used to be in nursing school and can somewhat separate my emotions from the physical when it comes to sick things, but when I saw our sweet little girl wiping away her teary eyes when she thought I wasn't watching.....well, that was when I couldn't hold it in anymore.  And then when I went to the feed store to get a last resort effort of penicillin, and the lady behind the counter said, "I hope your goat gets better, hon," in the sweetest manner, well.....why can't people just say something rude when you're trying to hold back tears?  Saying it all nice like that makes me cry.  Right in the feed store! 

So I came home  from the feed store and paused for a chat with my husband, hoping to get a little boost of bravery from him because I haven't put a shot into something's muscle in a decade, and the last time it was an old man and is a goat different? 

As we were chatting up my courage, I heard yelling - the kind that makes a mama jump over things like high beds  - from the backyard, near the goat pen.  In panic, I fumbled with the back door and finally opened it to see our six-year-old flying up the hill and our eight-year-old shouting from the pen.  The six-year-old finally said something comprehensible: "Mama!  April laid a baby!" 

Impossibly, on the same day we were to lose our precious Mary Goat, we gained a surprise baby from April Goat.  Our children, who think goats "lay" their babies,  have named April's baby Apricot, although it is a billy goat with pure white Angora fleece.  He has lanky legs and a high-pitched bleat.  We are all, even barely-animal-tolerant Tim, absolutely in love with the little thing. 

The children and I stood in the goat pen today staring at Mary in one corner, breathing her last breath, and little Apricot in the other corner, suckling from his mama.  I said to the children, "There is a Bible verse for this day: 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.'"

I'm going to pray for you tonight, that you see God's grace like we did today. 

God bless you,

Lori Seaborg

This photo was taken in December.  Mary is on the left. April is on the right (Apricot, the baby, was with April at this time, but we didn't know it!)

Wow

02:11, Wednesday, March 1, 2006 .. Posted by smmagers

What a lesson you and your family learned. I am so sorry for your family's loss,but I am also happy for your blessing.Do you have another goat to take over as mom for the little guy? if not let me know we have raised 3 orphan goats and they all lived ( Gods blessings). I would be glad to share what we learned.
You might want to get the book " the country encyclopedia of country living , by carla emery, she tells you ways to care for a lot of Gods creatures.
God bless. mj

Untitled Comment

07:14, Wednesday, March 1, 2006 .. Posted by LoriSeaborg

Happily, it is the mama who survived (she was never ill). We lost our second goat, who was replaced by the sweet baby. I'm off to sheer the mama's tummy so he can find his food more easily. She is an Angora and ready to be shorn in April, so he's having a hard time finding his food.

Beloved Mary

07:23, Wednesday, March 1, 2006 .. Posted by goatlady

I'm so very Sorry about your Mary goat- She was beautiful!
There just are not words - I know the loss of a goat and it hurts deeply- I knew when I read your post on the list you were going to lose her and I hurt for you, I prayed for you and for her to go without pain.

Lori, Visit my shop :
http://www.cafepress.com/getyergoat/1059267

The Memorial section, If you like, I will set you up a private section of my shop where you can purchase the Stairway to Heaven or Heaven's Pet Gate at my cost plus your shipping charges-
I would send it for free but cafepress sets the base price- I have no control over that.
hugs and prayers!
goatlady
http://Goat-Link.com

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10:24, Saturday, March 4, 2006 .. Posted by motherearth

This brought tears to my eyes, I'm sorry about your family's loss but we can rejoice in his word at the same time.