Belinda, a Special Friend

When Mom Mom was a little girl, I lived on a farm.  My daddy milked 60 cows in the morning and at night. When I was only eight years old , it was my job to be in the milk room at 4:00 pm every afternoon to set up the milking machines and help my brothers to clean the scuttles behind the cows. Later, we had to pitch the hay down from the hay mow for our father to feed the cows.  There were also chickens to feed and eggs to collect. There was always work to be done on the farm.

When I was nine years old, my daddy give me a little calf all to myself.  I named her Belinda.  Every morning before I went to school, I would get up, dress in my barn cloths and go out to the barn to feed Belinda.  I would give her a big hug around her neck, come back in the house and dress for school.

 I loved Belinda.  She was my best friend.  I thought a lot about her during school and could hardly wait to get home and play.  My daddy asked me if I would like to take Belinda to a 4-H fair in the Spring.  I thought that it would be a great idea.  He said that I would have to work hard to get her ready.  Every day I had to wash her all over with tide detergent, using Clorox  to wash out the stains on her sides and tail..  She would get real messy after sleeping in her pen at night.  She was the cleanest calf in the barn.  My daddy said that I was doing a good job, but I had to start training her if I wanted to take her to the fair.  By the time I took her to the fair, she had grown into a  beautiful young heifer.


The first time I put a halter on Belinda, she did not like it at all!  She yanked me all over the barn yard until I got her under control.  Finally, Belinda surrendered and I was able to lead her slowly around. She followed me very well. I really felt that she would be a blue ribbon winner at the fair.

Belinda and I never got to the fair that year because Belinda got very sick.  One morning my daddy called me into the kitchen.  We sat down together and he told me that Belinda was going blind and would not be able to go to the 4-H fair. I started to cry,"Daddy, you've got to help her.  She can't go blind."


My daddy took me out to see Belinda.  She was laying down, so helpless.  He showed me the red in her eyes and that it was contagious to other heifers.  Daddy had to separate her from the rest of the cows. But, he did have some good news.  He told me, "Belinda is going to have a baby this Fall" 


I didn't now what to say. Was I going to be a grandma an aunt or what?  I grabbed Belinda around the neck and said,"You can't go blind, not now!"  Belinda looked up at me and licked my hand to let me know how  much she loved me.  "Belinda, you are going to have a baby and I will help you to get around."


That Saturday Belinda left the barn and was put into a special pen outside.  She was quarantined, and left alone in her world of darkness.  I was her only light.  My daddy made me keep her away from the other cows until she would have her baby calf.


Late in September Belinda had her baby calf.  I was in school at the time.  When I got home and went to see to Belinda, there laying beside her was the most beautiful black and white baby calf.  "Oh Belinda," I exclaimed, "I wish you could see your sweet baby.  She looks just like you.  I am going to name her Chloe."


After Chloe was born, daddy had to take Belinda away before she infected her baby.  I never knew where she went, but my daddy told me that it was the best place for her.  I never saw Belinda again. 

Chloe,s mother wasn't there to nurse her, so I fed her special milk with a big bottle. I  felt that I had to be Chloe's mother.  I spoiled Chloe so much. I even trained her to come up to the kitchen window to eat Ritz crackers out of my hand. 


Chloe wasn't like her mother, and she wasn't afraid of  anything. She grew into a beautiful heifer that I was able to take to the 4-h fairs where She won many blue ribbons. After a day at the fair, Chloe and I would go out into the meadow and I would tell her stories about her mother. I know Belinda would of been so proud of her.

The pictures are not the original, but the closest that I could find to tell the story.

The Little BROWN Hen

This is a story I heard when I was a little girl about a little brown hen, who saved the life of Bobby Jacobs. Bobby Jacobs lived with his mom and dad in a small town outside a big city.  It was during the Great Depression, when many daddies were out of work and money was scarce. Bobby's daddy was also out of work and all their savings were running out.  His mother was a very thrifty woman.  In the summer, she canned all the vegetables in the garden and fruits in the orchards, so that in the winter they had beets, green beans, carrots, peaches, apple sauce and cherries to eat.

One morning Bobby woke up very sick.  His mommy and daddy didn't know what they were going to do.  His fever was getting higher and higher.  They had just enough gas to get to town to see a doctor. Old Dr. Smith took one look at Bobby and and knew exactly what was the matter. Bobby had contracted a disease that ONLY EGGS could cure.  The doctor told Bobby's mother that for the next six week he was to have a least ONE EGG a day  His parents were very grateful to know that there was a cure for his illness, but how were they going to buy the eggs or have enough money to pay the doctor? 

That night when they returned home, Bobby, his mom and dad got down on their knees and prayed for God to provide for them.  They needed ONE EGG a day for their son to recover. In the morning, Bobby's mother looked out the kitchen window . She noticed that a little brown hen was coming out of the bushes.  Quickly, she went out to see what it was doing in their yard.

In the bushes this little brown hen had built a nest and laid an egg.  "Lord Jesus," his mother exclaimed ,"You have answered our prayer and  here is today's provision!"  That night they prayed again and in the morning there was another egg.  This went on for the full six weeks.  Every morning after they had prayed, the little brown hen laid an  
egg.                                                  


Then one day when Bobby was feeling so much better, he noticed that the little brown hen was walking on the road.  She had laid her LAST egg for Bobby.  Bobby was well and the little brown hen was not needed any more. Bobby ran down the road to try to catch her and thank her for all the eggs, but she was gone. 

After my grandmother would tell me that story, I wanted her to tell it to me again and again.  She would ask me  "Where do you think the little brown hen came from and where did she go?" What do you think?

Operation Rescue

This story is about a thoughtful and kind little boy named Jack and his favorite friend Pal.  Jack and Pal had been friends ever since Pal was a puppy.  They did everything together.  They especially loved to go into the Green Forest to visit their friends the bunnies.  Every Spring there would be new baby bunnies and Jack and Pal wanted to meet them.  Whenever they would go into the Green Forest, the rabbits would come out to meet them.  Jack would sit down with his little friends and spend the afternoon talking to each of them.  He just seemed to know how to comfort them, when one was hurting or sad .


One afternoon  when Jack and Pal went to visit their friends in the woods, all the little bunnies came hopping out all at the same time.  What was the matter?  They looked so scared. Their little ears were all up straight and their noses were twitching. "Hey, little guys," said Jack, "What is all the fess about?"  They all started to talk at once. "Help, help, help!!!  It is the big red fox.  He is in the woods again.  We lost so many members of our families the last time he was here.  You have got to help us!" anxiously exclaimed the bunnies. 

"Good heavens, I don't now what to do fellers" said Jack fearfully.  "I will have to go home and pray about this.  I know that our Creator will know just the right thing to do for you."  Winter was coming on and this made the matter more urgent.                                                 


That night as Jack was getting ready for bed, he and Pal knelt down by his bedside and started to pray. "Dear Jesus, I don't know what to do.  Winter is coming and the bunnies are so afraid of the red fox. I need an idea?  Pal sniffed his nose under Jack's arm and cuddle closer with his two front paws in Jack's lap. He seemed to understand the urgency of Jack's prayer.


As he was crawling into bed, the Lord dropped the word ORPHANAGE  into his mind. " Was that the Lord giving him the idea? As he thought more about it, he began to picture in his mind the bunny orphanage in his back  yard for the winter months. He could build enough bunny hutches to house all the bunnies and to feed them through the cold months. Jack was so excited, he could not contain himself.  He ran into his father's bedroom to explain  his idea.  His father told him that he would think about it and to go back to bed.

In the morning at the breakfast table, you know what was on Jack's mind, the BUNNY ORPHANAGE, of course. Daddy agreed that he would help Jack to build several bunny hutches and suggested that he might make it a Boy's Club project with their fathers too.  That meant that all the boys in the club would not only help to build the hutches, but also help to care for the bunnies. It was an ideal Boy's Club activity, that they all could do together. But, they had to build fast with winter only a month away.


Soon, the bunny orphanage was complete and ready for the bunnies.  There were ten hutches built up on legs, to keep them safe from the foxes..  When Jack and Pal told the bunnies about their winter home, there wasn't one bunny missing.  They all gathered together and followed Jack and Pal to the bunny orphanage. In one afternoon they all were safe and secure in their new home.


Boy and girls...Always remember, when you have a big problem and don't know what to do, just ask the Lord Jesus how to help you.  He loves to answer your prayers, but you have to listen.  It might be just a word that the Lord drops into your mind that will be the answer for mommy and daddy to help you with.

The Three Little Kittens

Have you ever heard how the three little kittens who lost their mittens and didn't know where to find them were so unhappy? They were VERY  sad especially because it was Christmas Eve and they couldn't find their mittens to hang up for Santa Cat to fill with cat nip . The three little kittens were only six month old and it was their very first Christmas to hang up their mittens. They all began to cry, "Oh mother dear, we sadly fear, our mittens we have lost". Mommy relied, "Lost your mittens, you naughty kitten  now you shall have no pie."  The three little kittens were sent off to bed without their mittens and with no dessert.


Later that evening three little mice were feeding on the fallen grains in the grain room, when they discovered three little mittens hidden under a grain bag.  Earlier that day, the three little kittens had been playing "catch me if you can" with the mice. It was a fun game and the kittens would never have thought of hurting the mice. They liked to chase each other around the grain room, over the grain bags and in and out of the grain bins.

The three little mice were so excited that they had found the mittens. But now, how were they going to get them to three little kittens in time for Santa Cat?  Quietly, they crawled through the walls of the barn trying very hard not to wake up daddy or mommy cat knowing that if they did, they would be Christmas dinner!! It was very dangerous and a very courageous act for the mice to attempt to bring the mittens to the kittens.

The three little kittens had a hard time sleeping , so they decided to get up and try to find their mittens.  Outside their window they hear scratching. "What's that noise?  Do you think it is Santa Cat already?"

Scratch, scratch, again.  They looked out the window and there stood their three little friends holding up their mittens.  "Look?"cried one. ""shhh," said the other. " Be quiet or you will wake up daddy cat" said another.

"What true friends you are to find and bring us our mittens on Christmas Eve. We can't believe that  you would risk your lives to bring us our mittens.  You are really our favorite friends."the three little kittens all agreed. "How can we ever thank you?"


The three little mice thought for a moment and finally agreed saying, "When you grow up and your appetite
 changes, just remember, who found your MITTENS!! The three little kittens all agreed and said that they would always remember, especially when they no longer chased each around the grain room.


The next morning, I think mommy and daddy cat were more surprised than any one that year.  "How ever did you find your mittens.?   The three little kittens answered, "We don't think  you grown-ups will ever understand." And neither do I.  The three little kittens never again lost their mittens and made sure they got their cat nip each Christmas.  While the three little mice never again had to worry about cats in the grain room.  The three little kittens/cats protected them all the days of their lives.
  

 

Friends Forever

Karen and Cathy

I would like to tell you a story about two little girls named, Karen and Cathy. Karen had a quick temper that she was learning to control.    Cathy, by nature, was a more quiet, calm little girl, quick to forgive and a faithful friend. They had been best friends since they were very young, growing up in  Cooperstown. Their friendship had been tested many times, but the greatest test of their friendship lay ahead.


In the Spring the home school artist show was announced. Karen and Cathy decided to enter. The topic was "Our environment and the importance of caring for it". The winner would win an all expense paid trip to Disney World with their family. Karen and Cathy were very excited to start their project.


They both were very talented artists for their ages. For the next three weeks, the girls met together at Cathy's house to draw. They chose water colors to be their medium. Karen was interested in drawing how to keep water clean, while Cathy drew how to keep  air clear.  Both girls worked very hard to get their paintings ready for the art show.

Cathy

With the contest only one week away, the girls met to put their finishing touches on their paintings.  No one really knew how it  happened, but, Cathy accidentally tipped over the glass of water that held their paint bushes..  Karen's picture was  totally ruined. Cathy felt so horrible for what happened, but Karen was furious.  Her temper was out of control, yelling at her all kinds of names and accused her of trying to ruin her picture on purpose, so she would win the prize.

Karen

"Karen, why can't you forgive me?  It was an accident.  I will even give you my picture for the contest,"pleaded Cathy.


"I will never forgive you Cathy, never,never never.  My picture is ruined and it is all because of you." Karen lashed out.


Cathy couldn't take any more and headed  home.  She was heart broken. Her best friend was still angry at her. What was she going to do?  Cathy's mind wasn't paying much attention to where she was walking, and as she stepped off the sidewalk to cross the street, a car bushed too close  and knocked her to the ground. The driver in the car returned and found Cathy unconscious.  He called the police and they quickly arrived with an ambulance. As Cathy laid  unconscious on the sidewalk, they put her on a stretcher and   took to a near by hospital.  The police called her mother and she  immediately  drove to the emergency room to be with Cathy.


Karen didn't hear the news until the next morning. When she heard the news, Karen begged her mother to take her the hospital to be with Cathy.  Cathy was still unconscious when Karen entered the room.  Karen went over to her best friend and the first words out of mouth were, "Cathy, will you ever forgive me for being so beastly.  I was wrong to speak to you the way I did. You are my very best friend forever".  She no sooner confessed those words, when Cathy began to open her eyes for the very first time.

Karen and Cathy, friends forever

Reaching down to hug Cathy, she excitedly explained, "Oh, Cathy, Cathy, you are going to be o.k.  I promise I will never talk that way to you again no matter what happens.  Your picture is the best anyway and I hope that you win the prize." 

I believe that Karen's kind words asking for forgiveness healed Cathy's broken heart. The art show was more than anything that the friends expected.  The winner could take not only her family but also a friend with her to Disney Land. Guess who the winner was? Guess who the winner was? From that day on, Cathy and Karen grew to enjoy the fruit of forgiveness and encouraged each other no matter what they were doing.  That is what friends do!!!