Page 43 - July ONLINE VERSION

Bovine Canine us her love. She trusted us completely. We were cra-
zy about Beauty, and she returned the love.
By Garry & Kathy Martin
Lucy became comfortable enough to peer in the
Lucy had only bovine friends. There might not be When it became apparent, we began to take food back door when she wanted more than dry food.
anything questionable about that, except that she is to the fence. Over time, we moved the food to our We started a routine of providing food morning and
not a cow. Lucy is a canine: a beautiful, brown, sleek side of the fence. We so wanted to help Lucy, but she late evening. She adapted easily. We did not know
dog with golden-brown eyes. Her back paws boast would only take the food. She wanted nothing else. how timely the change was until the farmer came to
a brush of white at the tips, and she carries a large take the cows. We watched as Lucy paced back and
white pattern on her chest. While she would take One evening, a fluffy white dog showed up in our forth, obviously anxious as her bovine family was
food offerings from folks in the neighborhood, she backyard. We fed her, and she welcomed seconds. taken away. She was obviously distraught. Lucy kept
would not let them get too close physically. Various She walked right past the one who fed her, walking approaching the trailers filled with her cows. Whin-
concerned locals would bring her breakfast and straight to me, and laid her head on my chest. Nose ing and crying, she raced all over the fields, hunting
lunch from McDonald's, scraps from their tables, and to nose, she stared into my eyes. She knew I was not for them.
even brought dry dog food. She had been dumped the one who brought the food, but she knew who the Lucy
in the countryside at a young age and adopted by pushover was and made her move. It worked! We knew she was not trusting enough to let us con-
a herd of cows. She even ran like the calves with a sole her. She did not come to eat for a few days. Then She doesn't get overly close but does take treats from
bouncing gait. When they moved to the backfield at We had longed to reach Lucy, spending so much Beauty came home with her one evening. It hurt our our hands now.
the end of the day, she always went with them. When time and effort but ended up with Beauty! Lucy hearts to see her so distraught. She would stand and
the cows were given bread, she would get her share. stayed with the cows. It was evident to us that Beauty stare at the field every day, walking around in it for Lucy is the reason we have Beauty. We are hoping
She learned to like apples that mysteriously appeared had known human friendship at some point as she hours. Beauty would get her in the evenings, and we Lucy learns to receive love by watching us with Beau-
over the fence! Her tail was always down, and her was willing to be loved. Then one day, we caught would find them both asleep on the lawn chairs on ty. There is room in our hearts for both! Animals
eyes constantly conveyed fear. She was a taker: she Lucy playing with our new friend, Beauty. I stopped the porch. It kept them out of the rain. Beauty would have a unique and innate ability to spread kindness,
would take all the food that people dropped off, but to stare a couple of times and noticed her tail was up! come inside some evenings, which left Lucy outside their innocent souls are just naive enough to believe,
she would not give anything back. It appeared she It was the first time I saw her evidencing a little hap- alone. But she slept on the porch from that day kindness is the only available emotion. They love
had been abused before being abandoned on a lonely piness. A lonesome dog had finally found a friend. forward. We began to discuss what to do when it got first, mirroring here on earth, the unmovable, un-
country road. She trusted no one. We didn't know What we had been hoping for was happening, but we cold as there were no cows to keep her warm. We changeable, love of God.
she didn't belong to anyone for quite some time. just weren't the ones she began to trust first. had tried putting a large kennel on the porch, but she
would not get close. We put the food in it, but she
The friendship grew. They spent time together daily, wouldn't go inside. How were we going to keep her Pastor Garry Martin is an Ordained Senior Pastor at
but Lucy always went "home" to the herd. Some warm in low temperatures? Jackson First Assembly of God Church in Jackson, Tn.
evenings were bitter cold in the winter. She snuggled He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, moving to Sunbright,
with the cows at night. Each day, she came under My husband is very resourceful. He built a PVC Tennessee during his teenage years. He received his call
to ministry in 1980, while attending Rockwood Unit-
the fence for food, shaking and shivering when it was pipe square and placed it over the lawn chair she ed Pentecostal Church. He is married to Kathy Martin,
cold. In the summer, the flies would sometimes cover frequented on the porch. He covered it with tarps to also an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God.
her, biting her until she would roll, trying to get them keep the cold air from blowing in. Several old, soft He has two daughters, Mallory and Lindsey, and three
off. It was heartbreaking to watch. So we adjust- blankets were placed on the chair, with a heated dog grandchildren. He loves to fish, for both fish and the
ed our tactics. We brought the food bowl near our pad on top. It looked pitiful! But it worked beauti- souls of men! Pastor Martin has a unique sence of humor
house. It didn't work out at first. But Beauty would fully! Lucy loves laying on the heated pad and feels and he applies it in min-
sit and wait for Lucy to come and eat, then they safe enough to sleep there every night. istry. He is a people per-
would go off to play. We began to think about what son and is quick to make
would happen if the farmer moved the cows out of Lucy and Beauty are the best of friends. Beauty pro- a friend. Pastor Martin
the field. Lucy would be so lost and afraid. vides something we cannot. We provide something will tell you that life is
way to short not to enjoy
Beauty cannot. She could have been "abandoned" and live to your fullest.
So, we coaxed her (and enticed her with baked again when her security blanket…the herd…was He will also tell you that
chicken!) to come and eat on our screened-in porch. removed. She has learned to be a dog. without Jesus a person

Beauty It was a long process, but she began to come when Things have changed some. Lucy walks with us to can not truly know the
called to eat. We were getting somewhere, finally!
meaning of real joy.
We kept dry dog food out in bowls for whenever she the mailbox, sits near us when we are out in the yard.
or Beauty might want a snack. Beauty willingly gave
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