A Bit Snacky

The Cows, Horses, Cat, the Dog, and Me.

We are fortunate enough to live on some rolling hills (many roads around our abode, about eight acres). We live on one of the acres, and grow hay (kind of weedy) on the other seven. A farmer comes and harvests hay for animals he also raises.

Recently our next door neighbor wanted to erect a new fence between our two properties and included lovely posts up and down that side of the fields. We added a gate at our expense. He raises cattle, which eventually become steak, hamburgers and the like. Earlier, there were a number of locust trees that had to be felled and now my husband is ecstatic over getting the locust trees back in the form of firewood. Gleaning firewood from trees that have had to fall down, or blew down, is his hobby.

But I digress. I have enjoyed watching the cows graze up and down from my kitchen window. I frequently see all of the cows (and four beautiful horses) going one direction for a while, usually following each other, and then soon enough, the other direction. They often have a rest time once they’ve ate their fill, and then they get up and go again. Kind of like humans.

Kind of like me, I often snack in late afternoon. And usually late in the afternoon those cows are going the other way again, munching, chewing their cud, gathering the goods they can.

I had to have a procedure recently that made me change my diet for a few days. I was allowed to eat a few things, but oh the woes I went through were not fun. I kept telling myself, this too shall pass. I literally had to stop myself from grabbing a peanut or two or a cookie or orange juice. I drank and ate only the things the directions told me to take before my procedure.

I never realized I was such a snacky person! I won’t go into detail, you get the idea.

I have a new appreciation for the animals that God designed to have in our world. Psalm 148 has a number of verses celebrating animals, even wild ones, all the cattle, small creatures, and flying birds. I admire those who feed the birds. We certainly feed our dog and cat—frequently! In turn they nuzzle each other, and sniff each other. My husband loves stroking the cat generously. I am more business-like, feeding and petting as I have to. The dog seems to enjoy my attention and ruffling up her hair.

What a world, when animals seem to communicate and appreciate us. In turn, I appreciate the doctors and nurses who help us have better health. Most of all, we need to spend time marveling at the gifts God has given us. Food, water, land, flowers, gardens.

Amen.