Graciousness....

This precious little one is our first of the 2011 calf crop...he just decided to come a wee bit early...5ish weeks! Our former show heifer--Jolene--birthed the sweet one along with his sister(who didn't make it) on Tuesday morning. We labored with her all day Monday, all through the night Monday and in the wee hours of Tuesday morning catching glimpses of the total lunar eclipse along the way! Fearing the the calf wasn't alive we were prepared to take her to have a c-section--yes, they do that on cows too-- NOT at all what we wanted to see happen. I prayed that Tony would be spared the decision of what to do to help/save her and that in God's mercy even with our herd, He would make things very clear. When Tony got back to the barn around seven am Tuesday, the babies had been born with no help. This little guy weighed a whopping 27 pounds! For my noncattle friends that would be like having a 3-4 pound infant. LITTLE guy he is, but he is standing already and able to nurse with some help! We really didn't think he would make it. As He usually does in His ever so merciful way, God reminded me through the birth of this baby calf that He alone is the giver and sustainer of life. We have so little power. He is gracious to whom He will be gracious to and merciful to whom He will be merciful to! (ref Exodus 33:19) Praise Him for the gentle reminder that it is He who decides the numbers of all our days. I am so blessed to live where the miracle of birth, as well as the complete circle of life, is so visibly evident. I am truly a country girl at ♥.