February 25, 2020

Shannon and I have a Hereford named Hereford. That’s because she’s the only Hereford we own. She has the best disposition and gives us breathtakingly beautiful calves. Last Saturday, Hereford went into labor. I checked on her continually throughout the day, but the baby never came.

Sunday morning, I took out the dogs at 4:00. As I shined the spotlight into the dark pasture, I saw Hereford standing there with a very big baby calf. But because it was Sunday and I was in a rush to get to the church; I didn’t have time to check on her. Before I left the house, I told Shannon I was sure Hereford had a baby.

Once it was daylight, Shannon climbed into the gator and drove into the pasture to check on Hereford and see our newest addition. And while she easily found Hereford, there was no baby to be seen. But she didn’t have a lot of time to look because she had to get ready for church.

After the worship services were over, I taught the Confirmation Class. This meant I didn’t get home until midafternoon. When I walked into the house, Shannon explained that she had spent over an hour in the back pasture trying to find Hereford’s calf and was beginning to doubt she had given birth.

That’s when I began to question what I had seen earlier in the morning. Did I really see a newborn calf? Had the darkness played tricks on my eyes? Was it one of the other calves? Had she given birth? Was I wrong? It had never happened before but there’s always a first time.

I changed clothes, hopped into the gator, and went searching.
There, in the back pasture I found all our cows. Standing in the middle of the herd was Hereford. She was nursing the most beautiful Tiger Stripe calf I have ever seen. It was huge. That’s the moment I realized I should have never doubted what I had seen. I do the same thing with God.

There are times when I clearly see signs of God at work in my life. Then later, if I’m not careful, I begin to think in terms of luck, circumstance, or coincidence, instead of God’s activity. That is never the case. I must always remember to give God thanks for the infinite blessings that he has placed in my life.

This is why King David said: “Let my whole being bless the LORD! Let everything inside me bless his holy name! Let my whole being bless the LORD and never forget all his good deeds: how God forgives all your sins, heals all your sickness, saves your life from the pit, crowns you with faithful love and compassion, and satisfies you with plenty of good things so that your youth is made fresh like an eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5 MSG)

Giving God thanks helps us become even more aware of all the good that God does in our lives. It matters.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, I thank you for all the blessings in my life; those I recognize and the many blessings I never see or understand. Help me glorify you in everything I do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I expect we will have at least one more calf born today. What a blessing.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins