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A CALF'S MIRACULOUS BIRTH
By
Bernice (Bee) Horton
I live on a mountainside farm near a small
village in Billcabamba, Equador. I am involved in a reforestation project and
spend much of my time planting pine and avocado trees on land that has
been depleted and eroded due to excessive cutting. On a
day I had anticipated for a long time, I watched my cow, Kaula, give
birth to a beautiful calf.
I guided the infant to his first breakfast
on his mother's tit. After the birth, I left the milk bucket and ran to our house.
I could hardly wait to announce the good news with a radio
call to the rest of my family. They, too, were exuberant
to hear about Kaula's baby.
Later, I opened the gate to her corral
and began to hear a sound that I can only describe as heavenly. I listened, transfixed,
to what seemed like thousands of bees roaring in a swarm. I
looked up to the sky around the farm but saw nothing. As I crossed
the corral, the sound continued, full and beautiful. It sent me
soaring into an almost mystical trance.
When I reached Kaula, I admired her calf,
so strong and content. Then I stopped to fill my bucket with fresh milk. The
sound of the roaring bees continued to bring incredible joy and peace
to my heart. I wondered if Kaula could hear it, too, since
together, we'd experienced the miracle of her giving birth.
I took the bucket of milk and crossed the
corral again. As I closed the gate, the miraculous sound faded away.
I believe that God, the Creator, treasures
all creation. The birth of an animal is a joyous and sacred moment. Hearing
this welcoming spiritual sound reminded me that each animal comes
into this world offering gifts of love and companionship.
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