Last week, a friend asked me if I’d tend to their goats a couple nights, while they were gone on vacation. If you know me, you’d see the irony of that. Let me explain.
For the longest time, I’ve disliked dogs but not just dogs…I’ve disliked ALL animals, so when my friend asked me to tend to her goats, I answered, “Yes” because I valued our friendship more than how I felt (something I’ve learned to do), so on Sunday morning, I went to her house to “train“…just wait…
As soon as I touched the first goat, it jumped; I jumped, and it was uncomfortable after that, but I KNEW I could do it and ended up milking it, so I didn’t worry about it (too much), but on my way home, I called my ex.
I remembered my ex used to talk about growing up with animals, so I thought, “If he’s free, I’ll have him go with me,” and thank God, he went with me!
On the first night, from first touching the goat, I had problems. All this goat wanted to do was sit, lean, and stomp the hoof I was milking near: my back and muscles were tensed the whole time, but eventually, both goats were milked. One day down…one to go.
Yesterday evening was the second and last night of milking. I called my ex, but he was in the middle of making dinner and said, “Can’t you do it by yourself?” I replied, “No” because I knew I couldn’t, so he met me there, but I got there a little before him and tried it by myself…epic fail.
When I first walked up, the goat even got on the little platform, ready to go, so I thought, “I can do this,” but as soon as I walked in the gate, it ran into the little shed thingy (in the back, behind the other two). I could NOT get this goat out [mainly because I was freaked out about going inside there with all of them], but I tried. Finally, I got her out, on the platform, and in the stand, but guess what happened when I touched her: she kicked her hoof, leaned into me, tried to sit down and moved away ALL AT THE SAME TIME!
I even told her about Jesus and how she had to listen and how I was nice and how I was helping, but nothing worked, so I waited for Robert. After he showed up, it was easier but still hard. I love my friends, but I can’t say that I love their goats.
It was funny: yesterday morning, my friend (who’s a pastor) covered the morning shift and stopped by afterward. He was so excited, telling me about the “spiritual” side of it all: taking care of animals, etc. I reminded him of my dislike for animals and how I wasn’t seeing ANYTHING spiritual at all, so last night, I even “looked” for the spiritual aspect of it. Nope…couldn’t find it, so I’m going to go to his church this Sunday because I KNOW he’ll include it in his sermon, and I bet it’s something I need to learn.
Well, I can NOW say I’ve milked goats and collected eggs out of a chicken coupe, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Until next time…maybe, I’ll even get better at it…maybe.
Worship Flags and Infinity Scarfs 