Last Sunday was the last time I remember seeing Freddy with the rest of the goats in the pasture.
I try to count all the animals daily if at all possible. He just disappeared. I searched and searched the whole pasture. I asked everyone I knew if they had seen anything unusual at the farm. I didn’t want to think that someone would come onto our property and help themselves, but it just didn’t add up. If he had escaped then usually the other would follow.
Day after day I searched through the wood line, eyeing the creek and checking for any breaches in the fence.
Nothing.
I feared I would eventually happen up on a bad smell from a decaying body, or spot vultures circling. Neither happened all week. I could find no tracks where anyone had come onto the land. It was just a mystery.
Yesterday marked a week. A neighbor had relatives visiting and they have enjoyed feeding Margaret. They came to the door and wanted to feed her one more time before leaving town. I filled a bottle and off they went. Just a few minutes later they came and told me that we had a goat stuck. I assumed it was one of the others. Then they said it was a really big goat with big antlers.
Freddy? Could it possibly be Freddy after a week?
We all hurried to the field and there he was….stuck in a culvert.
I think the opening is just 18 inches.
I have been by this culvert everyday. I never saw his antlers or heard him cry.
The culvert is among some others that are being stored. Apparently he squeezed in, but the end he would have come out of was blocked half way. He couldn’t back out and he couldn’t go forward. Billy rolled the culvert just a little and pushed his hind end and out he came. Weak as a kitten.
When he tried to walk his back legs would almost collapse. He was pitiful. He wobbled to the pond and drank, and drank, and drank.
He slowly walked away, taking one little step at a time. He would stop and rest in between.
He went to another culvert that is much bigger and rested in the shade for several hours.
Last night he came out again and drank and drank some more. He nibbled on some of the tall grass by the creek.
He saw me and cried out. His voice was weak and pitiful.
I had brought him some nice grain to help him gain some energy.
Normally since he is the dominant male he will butt everyone else away and hog the food. But not last night. He gladly shared.
He wobbled off and let them finish. He wanted to lay in the cool grass, but would hesitate every time he started to put his weight on his front legs. I imagine being cramped up like that took its toll on his joints.
I told the little boy that he saved Freddy’s life. I don’t think he would have survived much longer. I am actually amazed that he is still alive.
I didn’t see him with the herd this morning. I have a gut feeling he is in the shade just trying to regain strength.
Interesting that yesterday in Sunday School we talked about the shepherd searching for that one lost sheep.
I didn’t find my one lost goat, but someone else cared enough to let me know when they found him. Together we were able to free him from certain death.
New International Version
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
This verse was one that was used in the Worship service yesterday.
We certainly celebrated and shared with everyone about Freddy having a second chance at life. And he is just a sweet farm animal.
Imagine what celebrating their must be when a soul has a second chance at life. If we worked together with real concern for one another, I’m sure there would be a lot of celebrating going on here on earth as well. If we just took it as personally and seriously as we should.
I love it when real life examples like this help me grasp the scripture more personally.
I've Gone Country 