Last Thursday I rescued a wee little goose from the jaws of Dog Maggie. I yelled, "Drop it," and Maggie did! The goose took off running, but I was quicker. I picked him up (he was alone and we are nowhere near water) and took him in the house. I said to Megan to Pete, "Look what I got."
And Megan says of course, "Ahhhhh. Can we keep him?"
So we got a box and filled it with grass. Pete told me to give him a bath (bad idea) so I did. Then the poor thing (which we named Clyde) was shivering. I got out the hairdryer and blew him dry. Then the little guy walked around the house.
He wouldn't eat and wouldn't drink. When it was time for bed I put him in his box and gave him a more grass and a bowl of water.
In the morning he was in bad shape. He had fallen into the water and was soaked. His neck was limp but he was alive. So out came the hairdryer again. I blew him dry and wrapped him in a towel. Shannon and I prayed God would heal him.
And he did. As the day went on he was more and more active. He went on walks with the kids. He ate grass. He drank water. He wandered. He made noises. And he sat with us. He seemed to be a very happy goose. That night he even watched a movie with us.
Saturday morning he was ready to get out of his box. Another day of activity for him. Saturday night I was thinking of him migrating in the fall but bringing by his new mate to meet his mom.
Sunday morning he seemed quiet. He sat outside with me before church. He walked a bit but spent most of his time between my feet (except when he was sitting in Shannon's robe pocket while Shannon wrote his sermon). We told him we'd see after church.
Shannon talked about Clyde at church. First time he ever had a goose in his pocket.
When we got home I took him out of his box and he had died.
The family wasn't happy. Megan was pretty sad. She asked why. I said I didn't know.
But I do know that he had a couple of really good days, and he brought joy to us. A life is precious no matter how short or long it is. Every life, even a little gosling's life, brings light into our world.