Our Christmas Present

Last night Bethany wanted to go and check on the "momma" cows. We had one that was looking like she would deliver any minute. Dad had gone out and checked a few hours earlier, but Beth insisted. Once again, she was right! We found her out in the woods beginning to labor. We stood around and watched for a long time. While we were watching we could hear a sort of a moan/mooing that she was making. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure that a few times I even heard some of the other cows moan with her. It is amazing to me how social they can be. There were several times that she would begin to pace to ease the pains and the other cows would follow.

Even though we wanted to stay and watch the whole thing, we had to get our two babies in the bed so we left the momma cows to do what they were made to do. When we got up this morning we called Dad. He said that he had gone back out there around two that morning and the calf had already been born. So we bundled up and took John Luke and Sayleigh out to see our "Christmas" calf. (I can't be sure that she was, in fact, born on Christmas day, but I'm choosing to think that way.) Both the momma and the calf are doing great!

In church this morning we sang Away in a Manger.  In one of the verses it talks about the cattle lowing and I couldn't help but think about that momma laboring last night and the gentle lowing that she was making. Having helped Bethany through the birth of both of our children, I know the importance of having moral and emotional support there for the mom. I can only imagine that as Mary was laboring, she was comforted by the animals that were there. I thank God for these experiences. They draw me and my family closer to Him. This Christmas was made a little more special by the birth of a Christmas calf and God using that to remind me of what He has done for us, His children. Merry Christmas!

-Will

To see more pictures of the "Christmas" calf visit our website. http://www.butterfieldfarm.net/