Funny title! But it has significance with the idea presented in this 24th chapter of Meeting God in Quiet Places: the Cotswold Parables by F. LaGard Smith. These are parabless which remind us in a wonderful way how life really works...how God works in our lives to comfort our broken hearts and bodies. So I'll tell you the story of the cows who seemed to feel compassion for LaGard's injury.
LaGard tells about stepping down with his right leg on a long piece of wood which he wished to break in two. Well, not only did the wood give way, but also his right knee. He thought his walking days might be over. Gingerly making his way home, he rested his knee for a couple of days before testing it with a view to caution. Walking stick in hand and limping like an old man, he slowly made his way from his cottage to a nearby equestrian path leading to the next village. His knee was still very painful, and he decided that it was time to see a doctor. He struggled on carefully until reaching a path that lead back to his village. Going from one field to another, he climbed over an easy stile and found himself facing five black cows.
Now these weren't strange cows--they were very familiar. But the odd thing was that they had never paid LaGard the least bit of attention in all his previous walks. But on this day, the cows stopped their munching and watched his bent body and halting steps. Then--to his amazement--the five black cows began slowly following him in single file. They had never done this before, and he felt that they were saying, "Let's walk with the old guy for a while."
Completely engrossed in making his way, LaGard heard the sound of cows running toward him. Turning around, he saw the five black cows rapidly bearing down on him. They were evidently bored with his limping pace and had decided to run a while. But when he stood his ground, they skidded to a stop, and began playfully butting heads.
LaGard turned back around and started to walk away. At that moment, he realized that he could walk again! There was still a little pain, but basically he was back to normal. He praised God and hoped the story of "sacred cows" wouldn't turn his village into another Lourdes. And he couldn't help wondering what he would be thinking if he had said a prayer for healing as he crossed the fence into the field of five black cows. Would he have given credit for his healing to a divine miracle? And he had to ask himself why not? And, in any case, he was extremely thankful to God that his knee was healed.
This is a very long chapter, so I'm going to break it into three parts rather than two. Since I've given you the basis of the story/parable, tomorrow you'll have some thoughts about healing and comfort. Stay tuned for the rest of the story!
And have a wonderful day with the family!
Blessings...Mimi
No comments:
Post a Comment