I'm Not A Goat and Neither Are You

Have you ever heard of a fainting goat before? No, well there are such animals called fainting goats. Growing up on our sheep farm we knew of them and saw them at various farms. They literally faint. The technical term for this conditions is myotonia. The picture above is a young goat that has collapsed because of being startled. If a fainting goat is startled or frightened it's muscles stiffen and it collapses for a short period of time.

It was funny growing up watching these animals. Sounds of cars honking or tractor trailers bumping by would literally knock them over. We would laugh and laugh as kids witnessing this phenomenon but I am actually not laughing about it any more today. Last night our teacher at our School of Ministry taught and the prayed over the class about being bold for the Lord. I humbly asked for prayer last night because I struggle with fear of rejection. I don't step out many times for the Lord because fear grips my heart and makes me feel paralyzed. At the end of class Pastor D. prayed for me. I felt a release and peace and lightness I have not felt before. I renounced the power fear had in my life and declared to my spirit and soul I would no longer serve the spirit of fear.

Today I had to go to the store before dropping the boys off for school to grab last minute field trip lunches. I totally forgot until this morning that they had field trips and we were out of bread. Walking to the register I heard the Lord say use the line with a cashier. That is not my style. I am a "avoid all humans" kind of person. I "B" line it right to the self check out without batting an eye. It was funny the boys were heading to the self check out ahead of me because they know I am such a creature of habit and sad to say they are probably picking up my habit. So I listened to the Lord and walked to the only line open. An older gentleman was manning the register. I felt the Lord say engage in conversation with him so I did. Nothing profound came from the experience but as I walked away I heard the Lord say "Now was that so hard?" (He smiled) "Oh, my, no that wasn't hard at all but Lord I didn't pray for him or have a profound word to give him. Did I screw up again?"

The Lord continued to speak to my heart as I dropped off the boys at school. He told me He was easing me into this but that He was happy I obeyed him in the little task of engaging in a conversation with this man. I then remembered how I used to refer to myself as a fainting goat. I remarked to the Lord (like He didn't already hear my thoughts) "Lord I am just a fainting goat. Sometimes I get spooked and fall over." Well, the Lord didn't find it as amusing as I did because I heard a stern voice speak quickly after my comment. He said "No you are not! You are not even a goat but a sheep. Do you remember what Pastor D. said last night. Those who do not hear My voice and obey are the goats but I have called you My sheep. Stop it!" "OK Lord I totally get it." He continued "No you don't. You have been around goats for so long you believe you are one of them. You are My sheep you and you know My voice so stop fainting at the enemy's call."

Wow. I went home and goggled fainting goats. I wanted to know some more information on them because I felt the Lord stirring in my spirit to understand all the truth He had for me regarding this. Here is what I found in the Encyclopedia about fainting goats...

A fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly 10 seconds when the goat is startled. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder calledmyotonia congenita. When startled, younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle...It is theorized that fainting goats were used by their handlers during travel for protecting other livestock (such as sheep) from predators by involuntarily "sacrificing themselves" due to their condition. This allowed the handlers and livestock to escape.

Oh my goodness I don't ever want to refer to myself as a fainting goat. How many times did the "false shepherd" in my life trick me into believing I needed to faint? How many times did I needlessly become a sacrifice for the enemy. The Good Shepherd defends His flock. In the middle east the shepherd's watch constantly over their flocks for predators. They take turns sleeping and watching always having at least one shepherd on duty at all times. Only western shepherds leave their sheep to graze unprotected. We may build fences up to keep them safe but doesn't that sound to you like a false sense of security. What would you rather have a fence or a watchful shepherd ready at any moment to kill anything that tired to harm you.

So I declare now that I am no longer a goat but a sheep in the Good Shepherds flock and I declare over you that you are no longer a goat but a sheep. So let's all stop fainting and stand knowing our Shepherd cares for us!! I AM NO GOAT!!!!!

Lessons from the Paddock: cont'

Back to our sheep farm story... My dad needed to repair some of the fence that composed Abraham's paddock. Now my father is 6 ft something tall. He was never intimidated by animals because of his height and stature. He was a strong man. So to him Abraham was no problem. I really think he saw this issue as another whole male dominance thing. He was the master and the sheep had to listen. Anytime Abraham would challenge my dad by either stomping the ground or lowering his head my father would do the same thing back. Quite silly at times watching a grown man challenging a sheep.

So into the pen my father went with all his tools. We asked if he needed assistance and we were told no, so we headed back inside the house. My mother was cleaning the kitchen at the time and had a great view of Abraham's paddock. I remember standing there at the window watching also. My dad chased Abraham down to the other end away from where he was working. For a few minutes Abraham reluctantly stood in his corner. Then my father did it. He turned his back on the ram and bent down to fix the fence. Abraham did an about face targeting my dad's rear. My mom just started laughing. I asked if I should go warn him and my mom responded with "No your dad is so stubborn. He has to learn the hard way." I could tell my mother was getting pure enjoyment from watching this whole thing. Well Abraham started stomping the ground, which for a sheep is a sign of "I am challenging you to a duel". Then he lowered his head and broke out into a full gallop. I still till this day can't figure out why my dad didn't hear the sound of his feet galloping towards him. He is no horse but he was fat enough you should have heard something.

With one swift butt to the rear my dad went flying. This 6 ft some man went head over heels into the fence. Was he ever mad. By this time my mom was rolling and had moved to the back door. I think she knew her husband more than we kids gave her credit for. My dad turned around beat red with fury and lifted the hammer up to the poor old ram. My mother threw open the back door and yelled "Don't you even think about it. If you hurt that sheep you aren't coming back in here." Yes you could feel the love. From that day on my father never turned his back on dear old Abraham. Abraham finally died before his 14th birthday. My dad and I actually skinned the poor old guy. I know that sounds gross but my parents still have his pelt as a rug. It makes for great conversations. People always ask "What is that?" and we would reply with "Oh, that's just Abraham."

Lessons from the Paddock

Todays story is about Abraham. No not Father Abraham from the Bible but our ram Abraham. He was our first breeding ram when my family started a small farm in New Jersey. We raised over 50 sheep, several beef steers, chickens, 2 ducks, cats, pigs and horses. A little bit of everything I guess. Well Abraham was a Romney Ram lamb when we first brought him home. Very cute and very woolly.

He had a great disposition. He was docile, playful and all around good natured. With rams this is a blessing because you can get some really cranky ones out there who just want to butt you every time you get near them. We all became very attached to Abraham so when his fathering days were over we did not send him to market but let him retire peacefully in his own little paddock. See we had to keep him away from the other rams we brought in for breeding purposes or we would have fights break out in the fields. Abraham was old (in sheep years that is) but he still saw himself as the dominant one.

Well the poor old fellow got up there in years. He reached a full 13 years old. That is great for sheep. However, his pleasant disposition soon gave way to crankiness and just down right mean. He would butt you clear out of his paddock if you stepped one foot in. We had to keep filling his water and cleaning his shed so our daily chores consisted of one of us kids running madly around with Abraham in hot pursuit while another quickly finished the chores. One of the times I was the runner I remember my brother started playing in the water instead of cleaning out the trough and putting the fresh water in. I started screaming at him and began running closer. As soon as he saw me bringing Abraham right to him he finished up, gave the pails a heave and cleared the fence. I too then took to the fence and hurdled myself to safety.

My dad never believed us about Abraham becoming so aggressive. He would always laugh at us. But one day we had the last laugh......