February 16, 2019
Little Cuties
Becky is in love (again)! Every time there’s a new baby animal around our little farm, Becky falls in love with it.
This time, it’s our little Guinea Piglets. This one, named “Grizzly,” is a female who we get to keep (she gets to stay on our little farm)!
So Becky has been making cute little pictures, drawings, and plans for this cute little piglet. She is a mottled brown color all over with a sweet disposition. (I’m waiting for a video haha!)
All of our piglets and baby animals end up with sweet, loving, friendly dispositions because they are raised by loving caretakers! The girls make this a solid priority! No one can mistreat any of the animals in their care, not even by accident. Lucas wants to play with the babies as soon as they are born, but because he doesn’t know his own strength, he has to wait until they are old enough to not get squished! (Or has Christina, Mom, or Dad with him.)
Their little piglets are never nippers. They love to cuddle instead of bite. What usually causes piglets to be biters is that they have been scared as babies. If they think fingers are poking tools, they will bite them. If they know fingers as gentle places to snuggle and get petted, they snuggle instead. The girls make sure to teach their piglets that fingers are gentle!
Just like in our lives, our experiences shape who we are! Often, if we feel scared or hurt, we draw ourselves into isolation and distrust others. If we feel love and affection, we feel safe enough to be ourselves and trust others.
Where a snuggly, loving animal is, there is a loving caretaker.
In life, we are expected to shower those we are responsible for with affection and keep them safe. The same as when we are caretaking animals.
I think raising animals is a vital part of growing up; it teaches children responsibility. It also teaches them a basic understanding of how their influence on others reflects back. Goodness returns goodness. Gentleness breeds gentleness. Love reflects love. God gave us the animals to tend and love – just as some of us will eventually lead and influence people (parents, teachers, leaders, co-workers, etc.). Early life lessons from these cute, furry little creatures who are so dependent on their caretakers help to mold a caring tender heart from whom compassion grows.
(Okay, maybe that’s a little too deep of a thought from watching children tend animals, but it’s what I see.)
Thanks for reading!
Type at you later…
~Nancy Tart