We have a little heifer named Moo Shoo. Last week, Shannon and I noticed Moo Shoo was walking with a limp. This sort of thing can happen for a host of reasons so we decided to watch her for a few days. It didn’t get better.
Saturday, we got the Moo Shoo in the squeeze chute. She did not like it one bit. If she could have gotten to me, she would have hurt me.
I lowered the side door on the squeeze chute, tied a rope around her leg, looped the rope over the top rail, and pulled as hard as I could. This raised Moo Shoo’s leg high enough that Shannon could use a hoof pick to see what was causing her limp. It turned out to be a roofing nail.
Shannon pulled out the nail and sprayed animal wound care medicine on Moo Shoo’s hoof. All the while, Moo Shoo was struggling to free herself. But the squeeze chute did what squeeze chutes are made to do. She wasn’t going anywhere.
I untied the rope, shut the side door, and then, once Shannon was safely out of harm’s way, I opened the gate on the squeeze chute, being very careful to make sure Moo Shoo didn’t come after me.
Luckily, Moo Shoo wanted to get as far away from the squeeze chute as possible. She ran as fast as she could to the back pasture. This got me thinking.
While I don’t have a clue how Moo Shoo got a roofing nail in her hoof, I do know that for her sake, it had to come out. I could also tell from Moo Shoo’s violent reaction to the squeeze chute, she didn’t see it that way. If it had been up to her, she would have lived the rest of her life with a nail in her hoof rather than go through the uncomfortable process of being placed in the squeeze chute and having the nail pulled out.
That momentary pain was necessary to make her healthy. Moo Shoo was unable to see the bigger picture.
Many times in my life, like Moo Shoo, I fail to see the bigger picture and I forget that God is working not just through the enjoyable parts but also through the trials and tribulations of living in the unpredictable world.
The good news is that God is always working through both the good and bad in life to make us whole.
This is what Paul meant by saying, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
I pray your day is easy and light but that may not be the case.
If you do run into hardship, remember to look at the big picture. God will use the hard to bring about good.
The greatest example is the worst moment in history, when Jesus died on a cross. Three days later, Jesus walked out of a tomb and saved us. God used bad to bring about good.
Again, if things don’t go your way, remember, God is still working in your life. God will take whatever life throws your way and use it for good. God always does.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 