The Joyful Cow

The first time i saw a baby lamb jumping (straight up in the air and taking off from all 4 feet) and kicking it's hind legs in a wide circle, almost out of control as it ran, i had to laugh. What in the world could make that baby lamb so thrilled. Well, Sunday I was driving home from church. As as i passed Curt's uncles' farm, a cow caught my attention. There was a huge snowy field filled with your run of the mill red heifers. They were all typically munching and standing there in the cold almost motionless. No surprises there. All of a sudden, one cow started running. I thought she was going to charge another cow but no other cows seemed to take notice. She wasn't just "running". She was head-down competing to win the prize!! Out of the blue, she kicked her hind legs just like a baby lamb, out of control and un-balanced as she ran full out. It was such a picture of "JOY" that it caught me by surprise. When we see eagles we may think of power and calm, when we see kangaroos and koalas we may think of motherly protection, when we see owls we may think of wisdom, but I've never thought of a cow as a symbol of "JOY" and yet... she kept putting on her splendorous performance of pure joy as my vehicle slowly passed the field towards home. I realized something as i drove on with a smile on my face. Joy is contagious!...and i caught mine from a red cow on my way home from town. :)