As I scribe these solemn words, I hear the sound of the cries of another childless mother. Today, it was a gorgeous day and we went outside to check on Miranda, yes, one of our sheep. (I know she is "just" an animal, but there are certain animals I believe have a soul) Yesterday, before we went inside, she was standing off on her own. We knew she was expecting and the other two sheep already had her babies. We went to check on her this morning and she was laying next to her lifeless newborn baby. From what we can tell, she had it last night and it got hung up in some briers.
My heart has been so sad all day.
We took the tiny white lamb with black and brown spots and buried in the back next to Roxy. Since we did this, Miranda has been crying and running around the pasture calling her tiny lamb awaiting an answer....nothing.
My heart is sad because we lost the baby, yes. But more than that, my heart is sad for her. She is left behind, a mother without a child.
Why this makes me so sad is because I completely know how she feels. I too live every day as a childless mother. My heart is deeply grieved. I hate hearing her cry and watching her as she goes to the tree where she last saw her child and she sniffs, looks, calls....nothing.
Despite my sadness, I am grateful for the life I have but I would be lying not to admit that this brought a cloud over my sunny day. I know that this is all part of having animals and these things are going to happen, but it doesn't make it any easier. I know that the sun will rise again tomorrow. Just as the sun has set on my grief, it will also set on hers and hopefully tomorrow, her cries will be no more. My hope is that although under that tree is where she felt so much hurt, with the rise of the son, she will find joy in the hope of continuing every day.
I know there are others like me. Those women and men that are parents to angels. In all this, I celebrate that SON rises!
