July 14, 2020

Sunday, we had a new calf enter the world.  Her name is Mary.

After the cowboys pulled Mary, her mother sniffed her, licked her once and walked away.  She rejected her baby.

Yesterday, as all the cows gathered around the barn, I let Mary out of her pen.  She immediately tried to bond with her mother.  Again, the mother walked away.

Years ago, Mary’s grandmother, Tater, had the same experience.   Her mother rejected her. 

That week, I took Tater’s mother to the cattle sale because I won’t keep a cow that rejects its baby. 

This week, I will take Mary’s mother to the cattle sale because I won’t keep a cow that rejects its baby.

To make matters worse, I was having a very hard time training Mary to take a bottle.  It was a real battle trying to keep her alive.  But then last night, as Shannon and I pulled up to the barn, we could see Mary in her pen.  Everything had changed.  Her tail was wagging, her head was up, and she was ready to eat.  She was very happy to see us.

We fed Mary the bottle of milk and then it was play time.  All my cares of the day washed away as this beautiful little calf hopped around the pen, full of energy and joy.  Mary was not going to let the rejection of her mother get her down.  That was the moment I decided to be a Mary.

While most of us will never know the pain of being rejected by our mothers, we all experience heartbreaking setbacks at one time or another.  And when this happens, our choice is to let that bad moment define who we are or embrace life and live it to its fullest.

 I believe, just like I was struggling to make sure Mary lived, God struggles to make sure we live.  God wants us to live – not just live; but live life to its fullest.

What enables us to truly live comes from a relationship with the One who matters most.  And by always relying on Jesus, we live.  This is what Jesus meant by saying:  “The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.”  (John 10:10)

So today, make the conscious choice to be a Mary.  Yes, bad things will happen but Jesus is more powerful than any bad you experience.  He truly wants you to live.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, as this new day begins, help me to truly live.  I pray that your love, joy, and peace shine through me into the lives of others.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

As soon as it’s light outside, I will go down to the barn to feed Mary a bottle of milk.  I cannot wait to see her.  She reminds me to live.  That’s a good thing.

I hope you are a Mary for someone today.

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