“Joy and Pain like Sunshine and Rain” Rob Base
My daughter, Madison has been asking for a Pygmy goat for years and years. Sending us fun FB videos and cute goat pictures throughout the year. This year for her 17th birthday, Beth and I debated about finally getting her a goat. I won and we went this past Wednesday and I bought my pride and joy, a beautiful baby boy Pygmy goat. We decided to name him Buddy. We knew absolutely nothing about raising goats. All we knew was that Madison loved him and she was happy! That made me happy!
Fast forward 3 days to this morning. Buddy had become lethargic and listless. He was struggling to stand up on his own and his breathing had become labored. We searched the Internet, joined goat forums, and tried all we knew until we finally went to see Chuck Gill at Morgan Animal Hospital. He took a blood sample and as feared, our precious Buddy was overcome by parasites. We decided to end Buddy’s life and with Madison watching, eyes full of tears, mercy was delivered to our sick little goat. I looked at my precious child that I have spent 17 years protecting from harm, pain, disappointment, and loss to see HUGE tears fall from her eyes. I lost it. I was crying over a goat. A goat I only knew for 3 days. I was quick to clarify that my emotion was simply due to Madison’s tears, but as this day has progressed I realize that much more was happening inside of me.
I was watching my daughter in pain. Pain that my “gift of joy” had brought into her life. “Joy and pain like sunshine and rain”. It was part of her life, not because of the goat, but because she is a human being. A child of God. He is in control. Could it be that God allowed her to experience those emotions in my presence so that I could share in her suffering? Could it be that God allowed this goat to be a sacrifice for my child and me so that we could experience those emotions together?
“He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” Matthew 5:45
As a follower of Christ, I believe in the Sovereignty of God. I believe that God has a purpose and a plan for my life. I believe God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). I believe that God is a loving and compassionate Father. I believe that He uses ALL of my life experiences to prepare me for all the good works that He has planned for me.
I believe that He loves my daughter more than I ever could and He is her protector, provider, and source of joy and peace during pain and sunshine in the rain.
Thank you Buddy for being a part of God’s plan for our lives. “Joy and Pain like Sunshine and Rain”
Much Love,
Seth