Poet And Plow

I have always enjoyed animals. From the horses and goats on my uncle’s Bakersfield farm as a child to the chickens and rabbits my parents smuggled into our 50x50 sq ft inner city LA backyard. Dogs, cats, snakes, turkeys, parakeets. Those were just the ones we had growing up. Animals provide 3 things: enjoyment, purpose, and sustenance.

Everybody recognizes dogs as man’s best friends. They seem to genuinely enjoy the company and approval of people. Cats are indifferent but still get fawned over and pampered just because their snobbery somehow appeals to us. Horses are majestic and there is nothing comparable with roaming God’s green earth on the back of one. The list of small enjoyments with animals goes on and on. 

In this ever increasing modern world we live in, it seems as though some of the purposes and helps that animals can provide get overlooked or unutilized. Unless you’re in Amish country, it’s unlikely to see a horse pulling a plow. You may know a bird, bear, or lion hunter who has a proud dog or two trained for that purpose or be lucky enough to get to see a cow dog help his cowboy round up the strays. More commonly, these days, you’ll see service dogs that remarkably provide their owners with many helps. For myself, I have goats that do all of my lawn mowing for me- and a good ol’ Blue Heeler pup that takes his job of rounding up said goats and keeping them in line very seriously. 

“Sustainable Living” is a phrase you hear often these days. For some that means green energy, but, for a lot of us still, that means working your farm and using animals to help sustain your family’s daily menu. I say the word “farm” loosely. Very loosely, in fact. My family’s “farm” is only 3 acres up at 7,000 ft elevation in the Rocky Mountains. Growing crops and gardens are very tricky (a topic for another time), but we do raise chickens for eggs and meat along with turkeys. We raise feeder pigs for meat and lard and, in addition to the four legged lawn mowers, we raise dairy goats for milk and cheese. My husband also hunts elk and deer. We don’t typically want for meat in our home. 

I don’t like referring to ourselves as the trendy term “homesteaders” that has gotten popular. We’re just living life in a practical way that we also happen to enjoy and benefit from, and it is a fantastic way to raise children.

Speaking of children, our flaxen haired crew of raggamuffins round out our literal dog and pony show funny farm. The animals give them enjoyment as pets and purpose in providing them with chores and a sense of duty for all of the animals; including and maybe more especially the ones that they will eventually help butcher for feeding our family. They directly understand the concept that the majority of these animals will provide or become a big portion of their daily meals. They 100% understand that food doesn’t just magically show up at the grocery store. We also are involved in the local 4H livestock program which provides a whole other host of benefits. 

For my milking goats, I am very particular about what they eat- only Timothy grass hay or green grass in pasture and lactation sweet feed mix twice a day. Recently, I separated one of my females from the others and picketed her in the best green grass I could find. Because I knew that’s what was best for her and her milk production. Within 5 minutes, she had freaked out and broken her collar to escape back to the weeds and mustard I had taken her from. She ran head over hooves, at top speed, back to the thistles and the oak scrub. 

It was frustrating. I was literally trying to give her the best. So I took the time to track her down, put her in a safe place, and fill her a feeder of the good stuff. Then it dawned on me- we do that to God all the time. He gives us green pastures and good water, and, often, we insist on running back to the weeds and mud. Makes zero sense. But He still pursues us and offers us the best (relationship with Himself). I see this same phenomenon with my children. We give them the best of what we have, would give our lives for them, and the wee heathens are always running for the pigpen. (No, literally, my kids love going in with the pigs.) 

I’ve spent quite a bit of time pondering this phenomenon and have come to the conclusion that when God said to be fruitful and multiply or to have dominion over the animals, in addition to enjoyment, purpose, and sustenance, it was to give us a small glimpse of what He goes through with us. He does, after all, refer to us as sheep. With good reason it would seem. 

The take away? Get married and have children. And then get yourself some goats. Raise kids with kids. Find fulfillment and joy in your offspring, keep your freezer full… and get a little glimpse of how the Father loves us.