We could all take a lesson from a cow...

Driving into Logan tonight, I passed a field full of black cows. Come to think of it, I pass them about three to six times a day, and last night, in the blizzard, my children and I expressed our compassion towards said bovine for having to weather the storm. Today, however, it struck me that we, the human race, could sure take a lesson from these cows in the field...a lesson in endurance, faith, coping skills, and optimism.

First off, these poor cows were getting hammered last night. They were covered with snow, buffeted by the wind, and left standing in the middle of a field with no escape...no run in shelter. Several of them huddled together, perhaps finding comfort from the companionship of their peers, or the heat of extra bodies. They have no choice but to deal. They endure. I can't help but think they are prewired with the knowledge that "this too will pass." They've been through storms before, and they know that they end. To me, this serves as an example of endurance through our trials and faith in a future free of, at least, the particular trial at hand. When times are tough and the wind buffets and the snow swirls around us, we can find comfort in the companionship of others - friends, family, pets, Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can find warmth in their smiles, their words, their hugs, and their acceptance.

Secondly, I noticed this evening that the cows were already pushing the snow aside to find the remnants of green grass perhaps hiding underneath. They made it through the night, through the subzero temperatures, and on the new day, pushed away the evidence of their trial to find new hope of fresh comfort. How many of us, after the tempest of our trials, stomp around on the evidence, curse it, nurture it, cling to it? How much happier would we all be if we had the smarts of a cow to stick our noses in the cold snow and push it aside? They don't get rid of it, but merely shift it to another place, in order to move on with their duty of survival.

Now, I haven't talked to a cow, recently at least, and therefore know not their thoughts on these matters, but am pretty sure one might say, "Donna, you think too much. We're just hungry and we don't give a rat's butt about endurance, faith and optimism. It is what it is. Enjoy your steak and think of me." And with that, I bid you adieu.

Sincerely,

Donna van Uitert
a.k.a "The Cow Whisperer"
11/24/10 11:15 p.m.