Sometimes we do all we can do and even then, the worst happens. Sometimes…life just happens!
We had a cow go into labor. After a few hours we knew something wasn’t right. We tried everything we could, but the calf was coming out butt first. The vet was called. The calf didn’t make it. The calf was removed and the cow wasn’t given good odds, but she made it overnight. She ate and drank and after a few days, it looked promising.
After a week, she still wasn’t right. More meds, another vet visit, but she was still alive. Another week passed and she still wasn’t bouncing back. More meds and another vet visit and a slim chance of survival. I went to bed without much hope, but woke up and almost 3 1/2 weeks after the dead calf was removed, I couldn’t believe she was alive. I gave it until lunch that day, and decided to move ahead with a plan if she hadn’t moved but was still alive. After lunch, she was gone.
The plan changed from helping her survive to removal. We did everything we could. But the worst still happened. We didn’t win this one. I sat on the four wheeler as we were loading the cow on the tractor to haul her away watching 3 calves running around the field. She and her calf were gone. But, life continues.
In the middle of loss, life still happens. In the middle of the battle, life goes on.
We lost one; we really lost 2. We tried everything we could. We fought the battle against death for over 3 weeks and still lost the battle. Loss is tough. Taking the loss is tougher. Knowing you fought hard and long and invested and still lost is a hard pill to swallow. I also noticed that I drove past life, as we took death out of the pasture. Life goes on.
I drove ahead of the tractor to dump the body and something ahead in the edge of the road caught my eye. It was a flicker. I looked closer. It was the white tail of a doe. The deer was standing in the edge of the woods. I hadn’t seen her, but she had seen AND heard me. She flicked her tail again and ran into the woods.
We drove ahead and dumped the body and turned to go home. Driving back down the road, I was still pondering the loss. The battles not won, unrelated to the cow.
Something caught my attention. It was a flicker again. This time the doe was in the grass that had been planted in a field under a power line. She had heard and seen me before I saw her, just like the other. But this time, she looked at me and instead of running into the woods, she ran into the road and crossed right in front of me.
Life. Life Goes on. There is more to do.
There are more battles to fight and WIN.
I heard the Lord say, “Got your attention yet?” A flicker here. A flicker there. Don’t be distracted by one loss. Don’t be discouraged by one battle that you seemingly didn’t win.
Press on. Life is still happening. All around you. You still have work to do. Pay attention. After all, the battle isn’t yours, it’s Mine. I’ve got this. You won’t win them all. But I will.
Yes Sir. I hear you loud and clear.
So here is your reminder, too. You will experience loss and you will not win every battle. BUT, He wins. Just because, sometimes life just happens, doesn’t mean that He isn’t God or that He isn’t still in control. He is working for YOU and for YOUR good. Press on!
