When they heard the chain slip past the clip on the gate to the barnyard, they all came rushing my way. The four goats, two Great Pyrenees and the flock of chickens all gathered around to greet me as I entered their domain. Agnes, the 90 pound Pyrenees pup grabbed my leg in a firm leg lock to claim me for herself. Roxy, the mature six year old simply offered her head up for a loving rub and a hearty hello. The four Nigerian dwarfs, Paul, Olivia, Peggy Sue, and Snow White all nuzzled their way between the canines to get their respective pats and rubs. The hens and Cock-a-doodle the rooster were content just to be observing from a nearby vantage. The purpose of my visit was to collect the eggs that the hens had deposited so neatly in their nests that morning. One old girl perched peacefully on the platform as I searched the other nests for their offerings. With six eggs collected and placed in the towel lined bucket I went to search one more area of the stable. Within seconds, Agnes stuck her nose in the bucket and was about to abscond with one of the fresh orbs. She had been the mysterious culprit previously in “the case of missing eggs.” A quick “NO” and an elevation of the container was enough to prompt a loss of interest by the pup who rushed to see what her senior mentor was barking at on the other side of the stable. Another egg in hand, I made my way back to the gate and the exit from the pasture. As I looked back, each of the animals that were so eager to greet and be greeted were busy with their respective meanderings about the stable. Back pain and stiffness in the right leg had been impediments to the full pleasure of engagement with the animals, but not a barrier to the joy of the opportunity to be in their presence. A pang of gratitude in a meadow of thankfulness generates a joyful heart.
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