It’s the Little Things that Matter

Calving season this year started off on an unfortunate note. Our first calf was born breach and died before it could be delivered in time. They say you only have about 4 minutes once the calf enters the birth canal because the umbilical cord is pinched off and the calf cannot breathe. Although it was a huge loss and discouragement, we moved on to the delivery of the next baby.

This year was definitely cold, with temperatures around 10 to 20 degrees at night. We were nervous to say the least and checking cows every 2 hours to be sure we didn’t miss a delivery and have a frozen calf to deal with. As it happened, we had to bring 4 different calves into the basement to save them from hypothermia. The process of reviving a calf can take from hours to days. Then comes the fragile reunion of cow and calf to be sure they start nursing and thriving.

One of the calves was a little heifer we named Dolly. She was born during one of those coldest days in February on a snowy, icy hill. Although Tim found her shortly after birth, she was in substantial stress and nearly frozen to death. What followed was the long and painful process of helping Dolly survive. After receiving the emergency call for help, I made a mad dash from Waterville to Omak. Tim had the poor little heifer in the basement trying to warm her. She couldn’t sit up and just thrashed in pain. It’s like her world was turned upside down. Her little legs kept trying to find some footing, but she would flop around and couldn’t even bend her legs at all. So, I did some research and started working on rehabilitating her. Little by little, I helped Dolly learn how to sit up, then stand, and then suck the bottle so she could be returned to her momma.

After seeing her nurse her mom and start trotting around (very unsteadily at first), I thought whoa – I am counting that as a win for the Moomaws. However, small or simple that win was, it meant so much to me. I continued to watch Dolly grow and get strong and to this day, when I see her playing with the other calves, think to myself “it’s the little things that matter”.

Wade (Tim’s Dad) had written some down some memories of the simple life when they first moved to their home in 1950. He said they had nothing but with one cow, a few horses and a blue chevy pickup. They had a hand-me-down couch they recovered in rawhide and that was good enough. I think so often in life, we become fixated on what is the next big thing. Whether it’s a big vacation, a big raise, a big life change, and that perspective can lend to us missing the little things along the way. At school, I often get caught up in worries about students who are failing, or next year’s schedule, or a myriad of other things. In doing so, I might miss that sweet little toothless 1st grader who waves every time he passes by my door. I might fail to appreciate the little things that can bring me joy if I am always looking for the big wins

Dolly has become my reminder that I should always take joy in the little things. After all God speaks to us in a still small voice as he did to Elijah after his big victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The story goes as follows: I Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Rarely does it seem that God speaks to us in a loud and thundering voice. More often it seems he speaks to us in small and simple ways. Meaning, I don’t think we even have to hear anything for God to speak to us. The little things like little wild blue bells help us appreciate God’s detailed design of creation. The way the light shines on the grassy hills during the sunrise or sunset. Or the seasons that come and go, provide us with an understanding of his providence and provision. Certainly, last but not least, are the little things like a dummy calf named Dolly, who help us know he cares about all creatures great and small.

My goal in the year 2022, is to find the little wins along the way, and appreciate the still small voice of God in all that I encounter. I don’t want to miss anything He has to say or show me and find joy in the little things that matter. Then I know I am humbly and joyfully walking side by side with My God who is so good to provide for me.